Time-reversal-symmetry-broken quantum spin Hall effect

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that the quantum spin Hall effect can persist even when time-reversal symmetry is broken by Rashba spin-orbit coupling and an exchange field, revealing a topological phase transition to a quantum anomalous Hall phase.

Contribution

It shows the persistence of the QSH state with broken TR symmetry and characterizes the topological phase transition to a quantum anomalous Hall phase.

Findings

QSH state persists with broken TR symmetry due to nonzero spin Chern numbers

A topological phase transition occurs at a critical exchange field where the bulk gap closes

Transition from TR symmetry-broken QSH to insulator requires band gap closure

Abstract

Quantum spin Hall (QSH) state of matter is usually considered to be protected by time-reversal (TR) symmetry. We investigate the fate of the QSH effect in the presence of the Rashba spin-orbit coupling and an exchange field, which break both inversion and TR symmetries. It is found that the QSH state characterized by nonzero spin Chern numbers $C_{\pm}=\pm 1$ persists when the TR symmetry is broken. A topological phase transition from the TR symmetry-broken QSH phase to a quantum anomalous Hall phase occurs at a critical exchange field, where the bulk band gap just closes. It is also shown that the transition from the TR symmetry-broken QSH phase to an ordinary insulator state can not happen without closing the band gap.