{
  "abstract": "The inherent spin-orbit interaction of electrons inevitably couples spin to the orbital angular momentum (OAM), posing a fundamental challenge to spin-free orbital transport. Here, we propose a novel strategy to achieve spin-decoupled OAM states in crystalline solids. Using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES), we resolve well-isolated s-orbital bands in a chiral Te crystal, clearly separated from the p-orbital manifold. Combined circular dichroism ARPES and first-principles calculations reveal that these bands host OAM arising exclusively from interatomic hopping, with no intra-atomic contribution. Spin-resolved ARPES further confirms the absence of spin angular momentum (SAM), providing decisive evidence of spin-free OAM states. These findings establish the existence of OAM without spin polarization in crystalline solids and highlight the essential role of inter-atomic OAM. This work provides a general framework for designing spinless OAM states, opening an opportunity toward pure orbital currents for orbitronics.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": "2605.21124",
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Dongjin Oh"
    },
    {
      "name": "Sungsoo Hahn"
    },
    {
      "name": "Chiara Pacella"
    },
    {
      "name": "Junseo Yoo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Angel Rubio"
    },
    {
      "name": "Domenico Di Sante"
    },
    {
      "name": "Changyoung Kim"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6s1g1mg6hsen8.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.48550/arxiv.2605.21124",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "6s1g1mg6hsen8",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.21124",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": "CC0-1.0",
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "arxiv",
      "cond-mat.mtrl-sci"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "3107|Topological Materials and Phenomena"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7161955474",
  "pdf_url": "https://arxiv.org/pdf/2605.21124",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-08-28",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6s1g1mg6hsen8.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:22Z",
      "native_id": "2605.21124",
      "source": "arxiv",
      "url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.21124"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "arxiv:cond-mat.mtrl-sci",
      "subfield": "condensed-matter"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Observation of spin-free interatomic orbital angular momentum in a chiral crystal",
  "title_text": "Observation of spin-free interatomic orbital angular momentum in a chiral crystal",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:22Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6s1g1mg6hsen8",
  "venue": "arXiv",
  "versions": []
}