Spin-orbit-induced spin-density wave in a quantum wire

We present analysis of the interacting quantum wire problem in the presence of magnetic field and spin-orbit interaction. We show that an interesting interplay of Zeeman and spin-orbit terms, facilitated by the electron-electron interaction, results in the spin-density wave state when the magnetic field and spin-orbit axes are orthogonal. This strongly affects charge transport through the wire: With the spin-density wave stabilized, single-particle backscattering off a nonmagnetic impurity becomes irrelevant. The sensitivity of the effect to the direction of the magnetic field can be used for experimental verification of this proposal.