Spin Splitting in Quantum Wires with Perturbed Axial Symmetry

We investigate theoretically perturbations to the confining potential capable of lifting spin degeneracy in axially symmetric quasi-one-dimensional electron gases with the spin-orbit interaction. The role of two different types of perturbations breaking axial symmetry of the system: of non-electromagnetic and electromagnetic origin is analyzed. We found that these two types of perturbations have a fundamental distinction in their effects on the energy spectra. The influence of the scale of perturbation upon the value of spin splitting is investigated and it is shown that under certain conditions such splittings can be observed in the experiment.