Chirality-induced spin selectivity by variable-range hopping along DNA double helix

Abstract

We here present a variable-range hopping model to describe the chirality-induced spin selectivity along the DNA double helix. In this model, DNA is considered as a one-dimensional disordered system, where electrons are transported by chiral phonon-assisted hopping between localized states. Owing to the coupling between the electron spin and the vorticity of chiral phonons, electric toroidal monopole appears in the charge-to-spin conductances as a manifestation of true chirality. Our model quantitatively explains the temperature dependence of the spin polarization observed in experiments.