The effect of the Breit interaction on chiral induced spin selectivity
A derivation of the Breit equation and the implementation in a simulation of electron transport
F.J.P. Baas (TU Delft - Applied Sciences)
J.M. Thijssen – Mentor (TU Delft - QN/Thijssen Group)
J.L.A. Dubbeldam – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Mathematical Physics)
Yaroslav M. Blanter – Coach (TU Delft - QN/Blanter Group)
P.M. Visser – Coach (TU Delft - Mathematical Physics)
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Abstract
Chiral induced spin selectivity (CISS) is an unexplained phenomenon in physics, in which the interaction within chiral molecules brings about a selectivity in the spin of the electrons.
The Breit interaction has been suggested as a possible explanation, but has not yet been researched in the context of CISS.
In this thesis, first a derivation of the Breit equation is given, which in the second part is being used to construct a simulation of electron transport through a simple chiral molecule.
The spin-polarization for the transmission including the Breit interaction was compared to the case excluding the Breit interaction, and the two were found to be substantially different. From that it followed that the influence of the Breit interaction on the transport of an electron through a chiral molecule is significant and it should therefore not be disregarded in calculations on CISS.