The intrinsic inter-band optical conductivity of a C$_{2v}$ symmetric topological insulator

Abstract

In this work we analytically investigate the longitudinal optical conductivity of the C$_{2v}$ symmetric topological insulator. The conductivity expressions at $ T = 0 $ are derived using the Kubo formula and expressed as a function of the ratio of the Dresselhaus and Rashba parameters that characterize the low-energy Hamiltonian. We find that the longitudinal inter-band conductivity vanishes when Dresselhaus and Rashba parameters are equal in strength, also called the persistent spin helix state. The calculations are extended to obtain the frequency-dependent real and imaginary components of the optical conductivity for the topological Kondo insulator SmB$_{6}$ which exhibits C$_{2v}$ symmetric and anisotropic Dirac cones hosting topological states at the $ \bar{X} $ point on the surface Brillouin zone.