Dynamic Polarization of Electron Spins Interacting with Nuclei in Semiconductor Nanostructures

D. S. Smirnov, T. S. Shamirzaev, D. R. Yakovlev, and M. Bayer
Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 156801 – Published 5 October 2020
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Abstract

We suggest a new spin orientation mechanism for localized electrons: dynamic electron spin polarization provided by nuclear spin fluctuations. The detrimental effect of nuclear spin fluctuations can be harnessed and employed to provide angular momentum for the electrons via the hyperfine interaction in a weak magnetic field. For this, the sample is illuminated by an unpolarized light, which directly polarizes neither the electrons nor the nuclei. We predict that, for the electrons bound in localized excitons, 100% spin polarization can be reached in longitudinal magnetic fields of a few millitesla. The proof of principle experiment is performed on momentum-indirect excitons in (In,Al)As/AlAs quantum dots, where in a magnetic field of 17 mT the electron spin polarization of 30% is measured.

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  • Received 23 June 2020
  • Accepted 28 August 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.156801

© 2020 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

D. S. Smirnov1,*, T. S. Shamirzaev2,3,†, D. R. Yakovlev4,1, and M. Bayer4,1

  • 1Ioffe Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 194021 St. Petersburg, Russia
  • 2Rzhanov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
  • 3Ural Federal University, 620002 Yekaterinburg, Russia
  • 4Experimentelle Physik 2, Technische Universität Dortmund, 44221 Dortmund, Germany

  • *smirnov@mail.ioffe.ru
  • sha_tim@mail.ru

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Issue

Vol. 125, Iss. 15 — 9 October 2020

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