The existence of conserved spin Hall currents is shown in a strongly correlated system without involving spin-orbit coupling. The spin Hall conductivity is determined by intrinsic bulk properties, which remains finite even when the charge resistivity diverges in strong magnetic fields at zero temperature. The state in the latter limit corresponds to a spin Hall insulator. Such a system is a doped Mott insulator described by the phase string theory, and the spin Hall effect is predicted to coexist with the Nernst effect to characterize the intrinsic properties of the low-temperature pseudogap phase.

• Received 5 August 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.72.165114