Dynamic self-polarization of nuclei in low-dimensional systems

A mechanism of dynamic self-polarization of nuclei is studied which is weakly temperature-dependent and operates efficiently in low-dimensional systems (quantum wells, quantum dots). It is due to the hyperfine interaction of nuclei with excitons whose spin polarization is artificially maintained at zero (by illuminating with unpolarized light) but for which nonequilibrium alignment occurs. Nuclear self-polarization arises as a result of the conversion of the alignment of excitons into nuclear orientation in the effective magnetic field of the polarized nuclei. Pis’ma Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 70, No. 2, 124–129 (25 July 1999)