Quantum loop current in a C60 molecular bridge -: art. no. 126801

The existence of a quantum loop current in a C-60 molecular bridge is predicted using the Green's function method. The model for the molecular bridge consists of a C-60 molecule attached to one-dimensional conductive electrodes. It is shown that the loop current is related to the degeneracy of the energy levels of the C-60 molecule. Specific to this loop current is its magnitude which is much larger than that of the source-drain current. The associated magnetic moment also shows certain remarkable features such as its inversion with the energy across the molecular levels and the restriction of its direction onto a single plane.