Spin Chern pumping from the bulk of two-dimensional topological insulators

Topological insulators (TIs) are a recently discovered quantum state of matter which is characterized by unconventional bulk topological invariants. Proposals for practical applications of the TIs are mostly based on their metallic surface or edge states. Here, we report the theoretical discovery of a bulk quantum pumping effect in a two-dimensional TI electrically modulated in adiabatic cycles. In each cycle, an amount of spin proportional to the sample width can be pumped into a nonmagnetic electrode, which is attributed to nonzero spin Chern numbers C-+/-. Moreover, by using a half-metallic electrode, universal quantized charge pumping conductivities -C(+/-)e(2)/h can be measured. This discovery paves the way for direct investigation of the robust topological properties of the TIs.