Quantum spin Hall effect in a two-orbital model on a honeycomb lattice

Abstract

The spin Hall effect is investigated in a two-orbital tight-binding model on a honeycomb lattice. We show that the model exhibits three topologically-different insulating phases at half filling, which are distinguished by different quantized values of the spin Hall conductivity. We analytically determine the phase boundaries, where the valence and conduction bands touch with each other with forming the Dirac nodes at the Fermi level. The results are discussed in terms of the effective antisymmetric spin-orbit coupling. The relation to the Kane-Mele model and implications for a magnetoelectric effect are also discussed.