We present an exact theoretical study of the effect of the spin-orbit (SO) interaction on the band structure and low temperature transport in long quasi-one-dimensional electron systems patterned in two-dimensional electron gases in zero and weak magnetic fields. We reveal the manifestations of the SO interaction which cannot in principle be observed in higher dimensional systems.

• Received 3 August 1999

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.61.R2464