  The effect of Rashba spin-orbit interaction in quantum wires with hard-wall
boundaries is discussed. The exact wave function and eigenvalue equation are
worked out pointing out the mixing between the spin and spatial parts. The
spectral properties are also studied within the perturbation theory with
respect to the strength of the spin-orbit interaction and diagonalization
procedure. A comparison is done with the results of a simple model, the
two-band model, that takes account only of the first two sub-bands of the wire.
Finally, the transport properties within the ballistic regime are analytically
calculated for the two-band model and through a tight-binding Green function
for the entire system. Single and double interfaces separating regions with
different strengths of spin-orbit interaction are analyzed injecting carriers
into the first and the second sub-band. It is shown that in the case of a
single interface the spin polarization in the Rashba region is different from
zero, and in the case of two interfaces the spin polarization shows
oscillations due to spin selective bound states.
