Spin-Valleytronics in Silicene: Quantum-Spin-Quantum-Anomalous Hall Insulators and Single-Valley Semimetals

TL;DR

This paper explores novel topological phases in silicene, revealing a hybrid quantum-spin-quantum-anomalous Hall insulator with unique spin-valley properties, and identifies single-valley semimetals with topological protection.

Contribution

It introduces a new hybrid topological insulator in silicene with distinct valley-dependent quantum Hall effects and uncovers topologically protected single-valley semimetals.

Findings

Discovery of a hybrid quantum-spin-quantum-anomalous Hall insulator in silicene.

Identification of topologically protected single-valley semimetals.

Potential observation of spin-valley physics via optical absorption or edge modes.

Abstract

Valley-based electronics, known as valleytronics, is one of the keys to break through to a new stage of electronics. The valley degree of freedom is ubiquitous in the honeycomb lattice system. The honeycomb lattice structure of silicon called silicene is an fascinating playground of valleytronics. We investigate topological phases of silicene by introducing different exchange fields on the $A$ and $B$ sites. There emerges a rich variety of topologically protected states each of which has a characteristic spin-valley structure. The single Dirac-cone semimetal is such a state that one gap is closed while the other three gaps are open, evading the Nielsen-Ninomiya fermion-doubling problem. We have newly discovered a hybrid topological insulator named the quantum-spin-quantum-anomalous Hall insulator, where the quantum anomalous Hall effect occurs at one valley and the quantum spin Hall effect occurs at the other valley. Along its phase boundary, single-valley semimetals emerge, where only one of the two valleys is gapless with degenerated spins. These semimetals are also topologically protected because they appear in the interface of different topological insulators. Such a spin-valley dependent physics will be observed by optical absorption or edge modes.