The role of heavy-light-hole mixing on the optical initialization of hole spin in InAs quantum dots

J Phys Condens Matter. 2013 May 22;25(20):202202. doi: 10.1088/0953-8984/25/20/202202. Epub 2013 Apr 30.

Abstract

The initialization of a resident hole spin by the absorption of a circularly polarized light at resonance involves the formation of an excited state called a trion state. For a pure heavy hole, this optical initialization is mediated by the hyperfine electron-nuclear coupling in the trion state. We show here that for a mixed-hole spin an additional mechanism for the optical initialization appears, associated to 'crossed transitions'; it becomes dominant and keeps a high level of hole spin polarization when the magnetic field screens the electron-nuclear interaction. Finally, using a simple model, we obtain a good theoretical agreement with pulsed pump-probe experiments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't