The Stern–Gerlach effect as a method for obtaining nanostructures with a given unidirectional anisotropy of optical properties

Abstract

We propose a quantum technology for producing chiral systems from multilayer nanostructures based on quantum Stern–Gerlach effects. Using the example of multilayer systems with non-magnetic metals, such as [Bi(Ag)–Al2O3]N, we demonstrate that depending on the relative orientation of the substrate, the magnetic field, and the beam of atoms from the sputtered material, several separate extended regions (films) grow on the substrate. In these regions, stable optical unidirectional anisotropy emerges, with the orientation of the axis varying across different regions. Our findings reveal that the resulting anisotropy is influenced by the interaction of atomic moments within the metal film. Remarkably, external magnetic and electric fields, as well as thermal annealing, fail to destroy the unidirectional anisotropy in the prepared structures. Thus, these structures exhibit highly correlated behavior.