Dynamics of nuclear polarization in InGaAs quantum dots in a transverse magnetic field

The time-resolved Hanle effect is examined for negatively charged InGaAs/GaAs quantum dots. Experimental data are analyzed by using an original approach to separate behavior of the longitudinal and transverse components of nuclear polarization. This made it possible to determine the rise and decay times of each component of nuclear polarization and their dependence on transverse magnetic field strength. The rise and decay times of the longitudinal component of nuclear polarization (parallel to the applied field) were found to be almost equal (approximately 5 ms). An analysis of the transverse component of nuclear polarization shows that the corresponding rise and decay times differ widely and strongly depend on magnetic field strength, increasing from a few to tens of milliseconds with an applied field between 20 and 100 mT. Current phenomenological models fail to explain the observed behavior of nuclear polarization. To find an explanation, an adequate theory of spin dynamics should be developed for the nuclear spin system of a quantum dot under conditions of strong quadrupole splitting.