In a two-dimensional electron gas with Rashba and Dresselhaus spin-orbit
couplings, there are two spin-split energy surfaces connected with a degenerate
point. Both the energy surfaces and the topology of the Fermi surfaces can be
varied by an in-plane magnetic field. We find that, if the chemical potential
falls between the bottom of the upper band and the degenerate point, then
simply by changing the direction of the magnetic field, the magnitude of the
spin Hall conductivity can be varied by about 100 percent. Once the chemical
potential is above the degenerate point, the spin Hall conductivity becomes the
constant e/8Ï€, independent of the magnitude and direction of the magnetic
field. In addition, we find that the in-plane magnetic field exerts no
influence on the charge Hall conductivity.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, to be published on Phys. Rev.