English

Universal phase diagrams for the quantum spin Hall systems

Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics 2008-10-14 v2

Abstract

We describe how the three-dimensional quantum spin Hall phase arises from the insulator phase by changing an external parameter. In 3D systems without inversion symmetry, a gapless phase should appear between the two phases with a bulk gap. The gapless points are monopoles and antimonopoles (in k space), whose topological nature is the source of this gapless phase. In general, when the external parameter is changed from the ordinary insulator phase, two monopole-antimonopole pairs are created and the system becomes gapless. The gap-closing points (monopoles and antimonopoles) then move in the k space as the parameter is changed further. They eventually annihilate in pairs, with changing partners from the pair creations, and the system opens a gap again, entering into the quantum spin Hall phase.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0806.3309,
  title  = {Universal phase diagrams for the quantum spin Hall systems},
  author = {Shuichi Murakami and Shun-ichi Kuga},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0806.3309},
  year   = {2008}
}

Comments

10 pages, 8 figures, minor changes, to be published in Phys. Rev. B

R2 v1 2026-06-21T10:52:41.868Z