A molecule with half-Möbius topology
University of Manchester · University of Oxford · +4 more institutions
Abstract
Exhibiting helical orbitals around a ring of carbon atoms were synthesized by atom manipulation on NaCl surfaces. We resolved the enantiomeric geometries of the singlet states by atomic force microscopy and mapped their helical orbital densities by scanning tunneling microscopy. A π-orbital basis of the helical, nonplanar singlets that twists by 90° in one circulation is consistent with a half-Möbius topology. In such a topology, the π-orbital basis changes sign with respect to two circumnavigations and is periodic with respect to four circumnavigations. A quasiparticle on a ring with this boundary condition could be interpreted as carrying a Berry phase of π/2. We demonstrate reversible switching of the…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 40.47
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 74
Authors
13- IRIgor RončevićCorresponding
University of Manchester, University of Oxford
- FPFabian PaschkeCorresponding
IBM Research - Zurich
- YGYueze Gao
University of Oxford
- LLLeonard-Alexander Lieske
IBM Research - Zurich
- LALene A. Gödde
University of Oxford
Topics & keywords
- Ring (chemistry)
- Atomic orbital
- Geometric phase
- Ab initio
- Molecule
- Singlet state
- Molecular orbital
- Atom (system on chip)