Electron transfer and spin-orbit coupling: Can nuclear motion lead to spin selective rates?

We investigate a spin-boson inspired model of electron transfer, where the diabatic coupling is given by a position-dependent phase, e(iWx). We consider both equilibrium and nonequilibrium initial conditions. We show that, for this model, all equilibrium results are completely invariant to the sign of W (to infinite order). However, the nonequilibrium results do depend on the sign of W, suggesting that photo-induced electron transfer dynamics with spin-orbit coupling can exhibit electronic spin polarization (at least for some time). Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.

Automated summary

This study investigates a spin-boson inspired model of electron transfer, showing that equilibrium results are invariant to the sign of coupling to infinite order, while nonequilibrium results do depend on the coupling sign, indicating possible electronic spin polarization.