We present a theoretical study of the conduction and valence magnetic
band structure of Quantum Well Wires in high magnetic fields. We show
how the transition from one-dimensional subbands to edge states and to
Landau levels can be followed, due to the valence band mixing, by opt
ical experiments by choosing the appropriate, linear or circular, pola
rization of the light, yielding information on the one-dimensional con
finement.