Intrinsic bistability in quantum point contacts with in-plane side gates

Abstract

We study the onset of intrinsic bistability and accompanying hysteresis in a single quantum point contact (QPC) with in-plane side gates in the presence of lateral spin-orbit coupling. The hysteresis in the conductance versus common gate voltage applied to the two side gates exists only if the narrow portion of the QPC is long enough. The hysteresis is absent if the effects of electron-electron interaction are neglected but increases with the strength of the electron-electron interaction. The hysteresis appears in the region of conductance anomalies, i.e., less than 2e2/h, and is due to multistable spin textures in these regions.