The impact of low symmetry on the electronic and optical properties of quantum wires

The role of the confinement potential symmetry on the electronic and optical properties of quantum mires is systematically studied. In a wide class of quantum mires with mirror symmetry we evidence a new set of optical transitions resulting both from band mixing and Ct, symmetry breaking at zone center. Several kinds of quasi-one-dimensional excitons are predicted as well as their specific dipole coupling. Even for ultralow C-1 symmetry we find independent excitons with distinct polarization selection rules.