Spin filling of a quantum dot derived from excited-state spectroscopy

TL;DR

This study investigates the spin configurations of electrons in a quantum dot using excited-state spectroscopy under a strong in-plane magnetic field, revealing ground state spins and confirming Hund's rule.

Contribution

It demonstrates a method to determine ground state spin configurations in quantum dots and confirms Hund's rule for four electrons using excited-state spectroscopy.

Findings

Ground state spin configuration for 1-5 electrons determined

For four electrons, ground state has total spin S=1

Electron g-factor is independent of magnetic field and electron number

Abstract

We study the spin filling of a semiconductor quantum dot using excited-state spectroscopy in a strong magnetic field. The field is oriented in the plane of the two-dimensional electron gas in which the dot is electrostatically defined. By combining the observation of Zeeman splitting with our knowledge of the absolute number of electrons, we are able to determine the ground state spin configuration for one to five electrons occupying the dot. For four electrons, we find a ground state spin configuration with total spin S=1, in agreement with Hund's first rule. The electron g-factor is observed to be independent of magnetic field and electron number.