Spin-orbit effects in a GaAs quantum dot in a parallel magnetic field

We analyze the effects of spin-orbit coupling on fluctuations of the conductance of a quantum dot fabricated in a GaAs heterostructure. Counterintuitively we argue that spin-orbit effects may become important in the presence of a large parallel magnetic field B-//. even if they are negligible for B-// = 0. This should be manifest in the level repulsion of a closed dot, and in reduced conductance fluctuations in dots with a small number of open channels in each lead, for large B-//. Our picture is consistent with the experimental observations of Folk er al.