$\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ Spin Hopf Insulator: Helical Hinge States and Returning Thouless Pump

Abstract

We introduce a time-reversal-symmetric analog of the Hopf insulator that we call a spin Hopf insulator. The spin Hopf insulator harbors nontrivial Kane-Mele $\Z_2$ invariants on its surfaces, and is the first example of a nonmagnetic delicate topological insulator with spin-orbit coupling. We show that the Kane-Mele $\Z_2$ topology on the surface is generically unstable, but can be stabilized by the addition of a composition of the particle hole and spatial inversion symmetry. Such a symmetry not only protects the surface $\Z_2$ invariant, but also protects gapless helical hinge states on the spin Hopf insulator. Furthermore, we show that in the presence of four-fold rotational symmetry, the spin Hopf insulator exhibits a returning Thouless pump, as well as surface states on sharp boundary terminations.