Spin Hall conductivity in topological Dirac semimetals

Abstract

We theoretically investigate the spin Hall conductivity (SHC) in topological Dirac semimetals (TDSMs) whose Dirac points are protected by rotational symmetry. On the basis of a general phase diagram of the system with time-reversal, inversion and four-fold rotational symmetries, we reveal that the SHC is sensitive to the phase to which the system belong. The phase and the SHC are characterized by the mirror Chern numbers and the presence or absence of gapless bulk Dirac points. It is also found that the representative TDSM Cd$_3$As$_2$ supports a large and negative SHC $\sigma_{xy}^z\sim -10^4 (\hbar/e) (\Omega.\textrm{m})^{-1}$. The principle behind the dependency of SHC on the phase diagram is also explained.