Nuclear magnetization in gallium arsenide quantum dots at zero magnetic field

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates efficient optical nuclear spin polarization at zero magnetic field in strain-free GaAs quantum dots, utilizing the Knight field from a single electron spin to control nuclear polarization.

Contribution

It introduces a method to optically polarize nuclear spins at zero magnetic field in strain-free GaAs quantum dots using the Knight field from an injected electron spin.

Findings

Nuclear spins can be polarized at zero magnetic field in GaAs quantum dots.

The Knight field effectively stabilizes nuclear polarization without external magnetic fields.

Control over nuclear spin components is achieved through optical tuning of the Knight field.

Abstract

Optical and electrical control of the nuclear spin system allows enhancing the sensitivity of NMR applications and spin-based information storage and processing. Dynamic nuclear polarization in semiconductors is commonly achieved in the presence of a stabilizing external magnetic field. Here we report efficient optical pumping of nuclear spins at zero magnetic field in strain free GaAs quantum dots. The strong interaction of a single, optically injected electron spin with the nuclear spins acts as a stabilizing, effective magnetic field (Knight field) on the nuclei. We optically tune the Knight field amplitude and direction. In combination with a small transverse magnetic field, we are able to control the longitudinal and transverse component of the nuclear spin polarization in the absence of lattice strain i.e. nuclear quadrupole effects, as reproduced by our model calculations.