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arXiv · 2506.15184

Effect of Rashba spin-orbit coupling on topological phases in monolayer ZnIn2Te4

Jun-Jie Zhang·Shuai Dong
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Abstract

The interplay of Rashba and quantum spin Hall effects in non-centrosymmetric systems presents both challenges and opportunities for spintronic applications. While Rashba spin-orbit coupling can disrupt the quantum spin Hall phase, their coexistence may enable additional spintronic functionalities by coupling spin-momentum locking in the bulk with topologically protected edge states. Using the ZnIn$_2$Te$_4$ monolayer as a case study-a predicted polar two-dimensional topological insulator-we investigate how intrinsic and Rashba spin-orbit coupling compete within a single material. Our results identify key conditions under which sizable Rashba spin splitting can coexist with a stable quantum spin Hall phase, offering guidance for engineering quantum spin Hall insulators with enhanced spintronic capabilities.

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Jun-Jie Zhang, Shuai Dong. 2025-06-18. Effect of Rashba spin-orbit coupling on topological phases in monolayer ZnIn2Te4. https://doi.org/10.1103/dxz2-yj9b

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