Phonon Angular Momentum Generation by Heat Current and Rectified Vibrational Energy Transfer in Driven Chiral Molecules.

Chiral phonons that carry angular momentum are widely studied in condensed‑matter physics. Recent theory indicates that temperature gradients can generate phonon angular momentum, revealing an intrinsic coupling between heat current and angular momentum in solids. Here we investigate this coupling in chiral molecular systems—single helical chains and double helices—using analytical models and numerical simulations. Our results show that (i) a steady heat current produces a finite nuclear/phonon angular momentum with a handedness‑dependent sign; and (ii) when the system is driven by a circular phase‑controlled force the induced heat current can be rectified, with directionality governed by the chirality of both the molecule and the drive. We map frequency–phase regimes that maximize these effects which could help establish microscopic design rules for linear-angular momentum locking and programmable thermal transport in chiral molecules and polymers.