Nuclear spin nanomagnet in an optically excited quantum dot

Linearly polarized light tuned slightly below the optical transition of the negatively charged exciton (trion) in a single quantum dot causes the spontaneous nuclear spin polarization (self-polarization) at a level close to 100%. The effective magnetic field of spin-polarized nuclei shifts the optical transition energy close to resonance with photon energy. The resonantly enhanced Overhauser effect sustains the stability of the nuclear self-polarization even in the absence of spin polarization of the quantum dot electron. As a result the optically selected single quantum dot represents a tiny magnet with the ferromagnetic ordering of nuclear spins-the nuclear spin nanomagnet.     

Dynamic nuclear spin resonance in n-GaAs

The dynamics of optically detected nuclear magnetic resonance is studied in n-GaAs via time-resolved Kerr rotation using an on-chip microcoil for rf field generation. Both optically allowed and optically forbidden NMR are observed with a dynamics controlled by the interplay between dynamic nuclear polarization via hyperfine interaction with optically generated spin-polarized electrons and nuclear spin depolarization due to magnetic resonance absorption. Comparing the characteristic nuclear spin relaxation rate obtained in experiment with master equation simulations, the underlying nuclear spin depolarization mechanism for each resonance is extracted.     

Optical pump - nuclear resonance probe experiments on spin crossover complexes

A novel sample environment enabling optical pump – nuclear resonance probe experiments has been installed at the beamline P01, Petra III, DESY Hamburg. This set-up has been used to investigate optically induced spin state changes of spin crossover (SCO) complexes by nuclear resonant scattering immediately after excitation by an optical laser pulse. Here, we report the technical details as well as first results of the experiments performed at 290 K and 80 K on the SCO complexes [Fe (NH₂trz)₃]Cl₂ and [Fe(PM-BiA)₂(NCS)₂], respectively. The ⁵⁷Fe-enriched SCO complexes were excited by a 531 nm laser with a pulse length <?100 ps. Evaluation of the nuclear forward scattering data clearly indicate the presence of high spin (HS) states when the complexes are excited by laser pulses and a pure low spin (LS) state in the absence of any laser pulse. Furthermore, the dependence of the optically excited HS-fraction has been determined as a function of the average optical power.     

A quantum computer based on NV centers in diamond: Optically detected nutations of single electron and nuclear spins

In an effort to realize a two-bit processor for a quantum computer on the basis of single nitrogen-vacancy defect centers (NV centers) in diamond, the optically detected nutations of the electron spin of a single NV center in the ground state and of the nuclear spin of a ¹³C atom located at a diamond lattice site nearest to the NV center are studied. The photodynamics of NV and NV + ¹³C centers under different temperatures and optical excitation conditions is discussed. A seven-level model of a center excited by radiation from an Ar⁺ laser at room temperature is proposed. On the basis of this model, the experimental spectra of optically detected electron paramagnetic and electron-nuclear double resonances of single NV and NV + ¹³C centers in diamond nanocrystals, as well as experimental data on the optically detected nutations of the electron and nuclear spins of these centers caused by the actions of pulsed microwave and radiofrequency fields, respectively, are interpreted.     

Hybrid optical pumping of optically dense alkali-metal vapor without quenching gas

Optical pumping of an optically thick atomic vapor typically requires a quenching buffer gas, such as N2, to prevent radiation trapping of unpolarized photons which would depolarize the atoms. We show that optical pumping of a trace contamination of Rb present in K metal results in a 4.5 times higher polarization of K than direct optical pumping of K in the absence of N2. Such spin-exchange polarization transfer from optically thin species is useful in a variety of areas, including spin-polarized nuclear scattering targets and electron beams, quantum-nondemolition spin measurements, and ultrasensitive magnetometry.     

流动系统中的激光增强固体和液体129Xe核磁共振信号

在流动系统中,用半导体阵列激光器在低磁场下抽运Cs原子,由自旋交换碰撞产生极化的129Xe气体,在SY80M核磁共振谱仪中,冻成固体和液体后的极化度分别为216%和145%,和相同条件下未光泵的129Xe极化度相比,分别增强6000和5000倍.为将激光增强固体和液体129Xe用于量子计算提供了基础和可能.并对输运和相变过程中极化损失作了讨论 关键词： 光泵 激光极化 核磁共振信号 光和原子相互作用     

Controlling the interaction of electron and nuclear spins in a tunnel-coupled quantum dot

We present a technique for manipulating the nuclear spins and the emission polarization from a single optically active quantum dot. When the quantum dot is tunnel coupled to a Fermi sea, we have discovered a natural cycle in which an electron spin is repeatedly created with resonant optical excitation. The spontaneous emission polarization and the nuclear spin polarization exhibit a bistability. For a σ(+) pump, the emission switches from σ(+) to σ(-) at a particular detuning of the laser. Simultaneously, the nuclear spin polarization switches from positive to negative. Away from the bistability, the nuclear spin polarization can be changed continuously from negative to positive, allowing precise control via the laser wavelength.     

(110)-GaAs量子阱中光生载流子对电子自旋弛豫的影响

我们实验研究了(110)-GaAs量子阱中光生载流子对电子自旋弛豫的影响。通过测量量子阱的荧光寿命和光学吸收计算,我们能得到不同泵浦光功率下的带间吸收所产生的空穴浓度;相对应地,通过双色磁光科尔旋转技术,我们测量了该GaAs量子阱中电子自旋的动力学过程。结合两者,我们得到了电子自旋弛豫速率与空穴浓度的关系。实验结果表明电子自旋弛豫速率与空穴浓度呈线性依赖关系,验证了BirAronov-Pikus机制主导该体系的电子自旋弛豫。     

Nuclear and ion spins in semiconductor nanostructures

Spin interactions are studied between conduction band electrons in GaAs heterostructures and local moments, specifically the spins of constituent lattice nuclei and of partially filled electronic shells of impurity atoms. Nuclear spin polarizations are addressed through the contact hyperfine interaction resulting in the development of a method for high-field optically detected nuclear magnetic resonance sensitive to 10⁸ nuclei. This interaction is then used to generate nuclear spin polarization profiles within a single parabolic quantum well; the position of these nanometer-scale sheets of polarized nuclei can be shifted along the growth direction using an externally applied electric field. In order to directly investigate ion spin dynamics, doped GaMnAs quantum wells are fabricated in the regime of very low Mn concentrations. Measurements of coherent electron spin dynamics show an antiferromagnetic exchange between s-like conduction band electrons and electrons localized in the d-shell of the Mn impurities, which varies as a function of well width.     

Optical detection of spin coherence in a defect center of a molecular crystal

Various optically detected spin coherence experiments have been performed at zero magnetic field in a tunable loop-gap cavity adapted for optical detection of magnetic resonance. Experiments on X-traps induced by guest molecules in chemically mixed p-dibromobenzene (DBB) crystals provide evidence that optically excited triplet states perform at 1.4 K fast jumps between magnetically well defined trap molecules. We conclude that the guest molecule p-dichlorobenzene is surrounded by at least 4 energetically distorted DBB host molecules.     

Optical spin orientation of a single manganese atom in a quantum dot

The magnetic state of a single magnetic atom (Mn) embedded in an individual semiconductor quantum dot is optically probed using micro-spectroscopy. A high degree of spin polarization can be achieved for an individual Mn atom localized in a quantum dot using quasi-resonant or fully-resonant optical excitation at zero magnetic field. Optically created spin polarized carriers generate an energy splitting of the Mn spin and enable magnetic moment orientation controlled by the photon helicity and energy. The dynamics and the magnetic field dependence of the optical pumping mechanism shows that the spin lifetime of an isolated Mn atom at zero magnetic field is controlled by a magnetic anisotropy induced by the built-in strain in the quantum dots. The Mn spin distribution prepared by optical pumping is fully conserved for a few microseconds. This opens the way to full optical control of the spin state of an individual magnetic atom in a solid state environment.     

All-optical manipulation of electron spins in carbon-nanotube quantum dots

We demonstrate theoretically that it is possible to manipulate electron or hole spins all optically in semiconducting carbon nanotubes. The scheme that we propose is based on the spin-orbit interaction that was recently measured experimentally; we show that this interaction, together with an external magnetic field, can be used to achieve optical electron-spin state preparation with a fidelity exceeding 99%. Our results also imply that it is possible to implement coherent spin rotation and measurement using laser fields linearly polarized along the nanotube axis, as well as to convert spin qubits into time-bin photonic qubits. We expect that our findings will open up new avenues for exploring spin physics in one-dimensional systems.     

Optical stark effect and dressed exciton states in a Mn-doped CdTe quantum dot

We report on the observation of spin-dependent optically dressed states and the optical Stark effect on an individual Mn spin in a semiconductor quantum dot. The vacuum-to-exciton or the exciton-to-biexciton transitions in a Mn-doped quantum dot are optically dressed by a strong laser field, and the resulting spectral signature is measured in photoluminescence. We demonstrate that the energy of any spin state of a Mn atom can be independently tuned by using the optical Stark effect induced by a control laser. High resolution spectroscopy reveals a power-, polarization-, and detuning-dependent Autler-Townes splitting of each optical transition of the Mn-doped quantum dot. This experiment demonstrates an optical resonant control of the exciton-Mn system.     

Electron–Nuclear Spin Dynamics in Semiconductor QDs

This work presents an overview of investigations of the nuclear spin dynamics in nanostructures with negatively charged InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots characterized by strong quadrupole splitting of nuclear spin sublevels. The main method of the investigations is the experimental measurements and the theoretical analysis of the photoluminescence polarization as a function of the transverse magnetic field (effect Hanle). The dependence of the Hanle curve profile on the temporal protocol of optical excitation is examined. Experimental data are analyzed using an original approach based on separate consideration of behavior of the longitudinal and transverse components of the nuclear polarization. The rise and decay times of each component of the nuclear polarization and their dependence on transverse magnetic field strength are determined. To study the role of the Knight field in the dynamic of nuclear polarization, a weak additional magnetic field parallel to the optical axis is used. We have found that, only taking into account the nuclear spin fluctuations, we can accurately describe the measured Hanle curves and evaluate the parameters of the electron–nuclear spin system in the studied quantum dots. A new effect of the resonant optical pumping of nuclear spin polarization in an ensemble of the singly charged (In,Ga)As/GaAs quantum dots subjected to a transverse magnetic field is discussed. Nuclear spin resonances for all isotopes in the quantum dots are detected in that way. In particular, transitions between the states split off from the ±1/2 doublets by the nuclear quadrupole interaction are identified.     

Electrically controlled transfer of spin angular momentum of light in an optically active medium

Spin is an intrinsic property of the photon. A method for using an externally applied dc electric field to manipulate the transfer of spin angular momentum of light in an optically active medium is presented. To discuss this, we first develop a wave coupling theory of the mutual action of natural optical activity and the linear electro-optic effect. Besides being used for analyzing the electrically controlled transfer of spin angular momentum of light, the theory can also be used to describe the propagation of light traveling along an arbitrary direction in any optically active medium with an external dc electric field along an arbitrary direction.     

Motional-narrowing-type dephasing of electron and hole spins of itinerant excitons in magnetically doped II-VI bulk semiconductors

Time-resolved optical spin-quantum-beat measurements performed on magnetically doped II-VI bulk semiconductors reveal an increase of the electron spin dephasing time with rising temperature typical for motional narrowing. With the dephasing being notably faster than in undoped II-VI semiconductors, the magnetic dopants must play a key role, modifying the known dephasing mechanisms and introducing new ones. Focusing on the latter, we theoretically explore the spin dephasing channel arising from magnetization fluctuations sampled by the itinerant excitons. This mechanism suffices to explain quantitatively the results of our time-resolved Faraday-rotation experiments on optically excited Cd(1-x)Mn(x)Te which we present here as a function of magnetic field, temperature and manganese dopant density. In addition to electron spin-quantum beats, some of our experiments reveal hole spin beats as well.     

Optical detection of single-electron spin resonance in a quantum dot

We demonstrate optically detected spin resonance of a single electron confined to a self-assembled quantum dot. The dot is rendered dark by resonant optical pumping of the spin with a laser. Contrast is restored by applying a radio frequency (rf) magnetic field at the spin resonance. The scheme is sensitive even to rf fields of just a few microT. In one case, the spin resonance behaves as a driven 3-level lambda system with weak damping; in another one, the dot exhibits remarkably strong (67% signal recovery) and narrow (0.34 MHz) spin resonances with fluctuating resonant positions, evidence of unusual dynamic processes.     

Iron-57 Mössbauer spectroscopic study of fluorinated strontium orthoferrite

A nuclear spin maser of a new type, that employs a feedback scheme based on optical nuclear spin detection, has been fabricated. The spin maser is operated at a low static field of 30 mG by using the optical detection method. The frequency stability and precision of the spin maser have been improved by a highly stabilized current source for the static magnetic field. An experimental setup to search for an electric dipole moment (EDM) in ¹²⁹Xe atom is being developed.     

Ultrafast extrinsic spin-Hall currents

We consider the possibility of ultrafast extrinsic spin-Hall currents, generated by skew scattering following the optical injection of charge or pure spin currents. We propose a phenomenological model for this effect in quantum well structures. An injected charge current leads to a spin-Hall-induced pure spin current, and an injected pure spin current leads to a spin-Hall-induced charge current. The resulting spin or charge accumulation can be measured optically.     

Nuclear spin diffusion effects in optically pumped quantum wells

We studied the influence of the nuclear spin diffusion on the dynamical nuclear polarization of low dimensional nanostructures subject to optical pumping. Our analysis shows that the induced nuclear spin polarization in semiconductor nanostructures will develop both a time and position dependence due to a nonuniform hyperfine interaction as a result of the geometrical confinement provided by the system. In particular, for the case of semiconductor quantum wells, nuclear spin diffusion is responsible for a nonzero nuclear spin polarization in the quantum well barriers. As an example we considered a 57 Å GaAs square quantum well and a 1000 Å Al _x Ga_1?x As parabolic quantum well both within 500 Å Al_0.4Ga_0.6As barriers. We found that the average nuclear spin polarization in the quantum well barriers depends on the strength of the geometrical confinement provided by the structure and is characterized by a saturation time of the order of few hundred seconds. Depending on the value of the nuclear spin diffusion constant, the average nuclear spin polarization in the quantum well barriers can get as high as 70% for the square quantum well and 40% for the parabolic quantum well. These results should be relevant for both time resolved Faraday rotation and optical nuclear magnetic resonance experimental techniques.