Nuclear Polarisation in Quantum Wires

We consider the intriguing possibility that current flow within a quantum wire can produce nuclear polarisation. The quantum wire is special because electrons can only move along one direction. Also, because of its heterogeneous structure, spin-orbit effects come into play. Together, this means that electrons are only permitted to have spin up or down orientations within the wire. By exploiting this and the Overhauser effect, we calculate the degree of nuclear polarisation and the electronic conductance arising from the effect of a non-equilibrium current.