Topology of three-dimensional Dirac semimetals and generalized quantum spin Hall systems without gapless edge modes

Abstract: Usually the quantum spin Hall states are expected to possess gapless, helical edge modes. Are there clean, non-interacting, quantum spin Hall states without gapless, edge modes? We show the generic, $n$-fold-symmetric, momentum planes of three-dimensional, stable Dirac semi-metals, which are orthogonal to the direction of nodal separation are examples of such generalized quantum spin Hall systems. We demonstrate that the planes lying between two Dirac points and the celebrated Bernevig-Zhang-Hughes model support identical quantized, non-Abelian Berry flux of magnitude $2 \pi$. Consequently, both systems exhibit spin-charge separation in response to electromagnetic, $\pi$-flux vortex. The Dirac points are identified as the unit-strength, monopoles of $SO(5)$ Berry connection, describing topological quantum phase transitions between generalized, quantum spin Hall and trivial insulators. Our work identifies precise bulk invariant and quantized response of Dirac semimetals and shows that many two-dimensional higher-order topological insulators can be understood as generalized quantum spin Hall systems, possessing gapped edge states.