Resonant reflection at magnetic barriers in quantum wires

The conductance of a quantum wire containing a single magnetic barrier is studied numerically by means of the recursive Green's function technique. For sufficiently strong and localized barriers, Fano-type reflection resonances are observed close to the pinch-off regime. They are attributed to a magnetoelectric vortex-type quasibound state inside the magnetic barrier that interferes with an extended mode outside. We, furthermore, show that disorder can substantially modify the residual conductance around the pinch-off regime.