Quantum Spin Hall Effect

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The quantum spin Hall state is a state of matter proposed to exist in special, two-dimensional, semiconductors with spin-orbit coupling. The quantum spin Hall state of matter is the cousin of the integer quantum Hall state, but, unlike the latter, it does not require the application of a large magnetic field. The quantum spin Hall state does not break any discrete symmetries (such as time-reversal or parity). It has been recently proposed and subsequently experimentally realized in mercury (II) telluride (HgTe) semiconductors. The first proposal for the existence of a quantum spin Hall state was developed by Kane and Mele who adapted an earlier model for graphene by Haldane which exhibits an integer quantum Hall effect. The Kane and Mele model is two copies of the Haldane model such that the spin up electron exhibits a chiral integer quantum Hall Effect while the spin down electron exhibits and anti-chiral integer quantum Hall effect.