Anomalous magnetoresistance peak in quantum wires: Evidence for boundary-scattering mechanisms

We present a combined experimental and theoretical investigation of the low-temperature magnetoresistance of quantum wires. A remarkable experimental feature is an anomalous resistance maximum at low magnetic fields related to scattering at wire boundaries. Theoretically, the influence of boundary scattering on magnetoresistance is calculated on the basis of the Kubo formula in the self-consistent Born approximation. Experimental and theoretical results are in good agreement in the whole magnetic-field range up to 5 T, including oscillations due to depopulation of one-dimensional subbands