Conductance anomalies in a one-dimensional quantum contact

Short length quantum wires (quantum contacts) exhibit a conductance structure at the value of conductance close to 0.7 \times 2e^2/h. The structure is also called the conductance anomaly. In longer contacts the structure evolves to the lower values of conductance. We demonstrate that this structure is related to the development of charge density waves within the contact. This is a precursor for Wigner crystallization. Many-body Hartree-Fock calculations of conductance are performed. The results are in agreement with experimental data.