Optical pumping of electronic and nuclear spin in single charge-tunable quantum dots

TL;DR

This paper investigates optical spin pumping in single GaAs quantum dots across different charge states, revealing charge-dependent polarization and demonstrating nuclear spin polarization via the Overhauser effect.

Contribution

It provides the first measurements of the Hanle effect on an individual quantum dot and shows charge-dependent optical pumping of both electron and nuclear spins.

Findings

Photoluminescence polarization memory correlates with net charge.

Optical pumping enhances spin polarization effects.

Nuclear spins can be efficiently polarized in all charge states.

Abstract

We present a comprehensive examination of optical pumping of spins in individual GaAs quantum dots as we change the charge from positive to neutral to negative using a Schottky diode. We observe that photoluminescence polarization memory has the same sign as the net charge of the dot. Optical pumping of ground state electron spins enhances this effect, as demonstrated through the first measurements of the Hanle effect on an individual quantum dot. With the Overhauser effect in a high longitudinal magnetic field, we demonstrate efficient optical pumping of the quantum dot's nuclear spins for all three charge states.