Electron transport through ballistic quantum channels

We study the ID transport through open channels of a quantum wire by a Lutt inger liquid model. We introduce contact regions lying in between the non-i nteracting leads and the interacting quantum wire as Luttinger liquids whos e properties are governed by the electron parameters in the leads. We place two barriers at the contacts to model imperfect coupling between the leads and the quantum wire. We then show that this model explains several intere sting features of recent experiments. We discuss the criteria required to o bserve resonant transmission through such a quantum wire. We briefly discus s the role of an external magnetic field on transport. (C) 2001 Elsevier Sc ience B.V. All rights reserved.