Quantum Spin Hall Insulators with Interactions and Lattice Anisotropy

Understand

We investigate the interplay between spin-orbit coupling and electron-electron interactions on the honeycomb lattice combining the cellular dynamical mean-field theory and its real space extension with analytical approaches.

• We provide a thorough analysis of the phase diagram and temperature effects at weak spin-orbit coupling.
• We systematically discuss the stability of the quantum spin Hall phase toward interactions and lattice anisotropy resulting in the plaquette-honeycomb model.
• We also show the evolution of the helical edge states characteristic of quantum spin Hall insulators as a function of Hubbard interaction and anisotropy.