Zitterbewegung of wave packets and conductance of a quasi-one-dimensional channel in the presence of spin-orbit coupling

The electron energy spectrum and wave functions for a quasi-one-dimensional channel with Rashba spin-orbit coupling are calculated. The dynamics of wave packets in thin wires based on GaAs/In_0.23Ga_0.77As and AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures with Rashba spin-orbit coupling are studied. Spin polarizations are found. The effect of splitting of wave packets with respect to their centers of mass and Zitterbewegung of their centers are discovered. The characteristics of wave-packet oscillations and spin density for free electrons and under confinement conditions are compared. A method for controlling the conductance of the quasi-one-dimensional channel using a controlling electrode is proposed.