Wave-particle duality of electrons with spin-momentum locking Double-slit interference and single-slit diffraction effects of electrons on the surface of three-dimensional topological insulators

We investigate the effects of spin-momentum locking on the interference and diffraction pattern due to a double- or single-slit in an electronic Gedankenexperiment. We show that the inclusion of the spin-degree-of-freedom, when coupled to the motion direction of the carrier -- a typical situation that occurs in systems with spin-orbit interaction -- leads to a modification of the interference and diffraction patterns depending on the geometrical parameters of the system.