Semiconductor quantum dots InAs/GaAs exhibit optical and electronic properties for which they are often compared to an individual atom. This thesis work focuses on diff erent aspect of light-matter interaction in a single semiconductor quantum dot. The coupled system constituted by the electron spin and the nuclei spins have been studied in a single quantum dot. Photoluminescence experiments resolved in polarization have been carried out, with non resonant optical pumping : comprehensive studies in photoluminescence excitation under various experimental conditions (excitation power and polarization) have been performed. They point out the quantum dots fluctuating charge state and the strong coupling between the electron spin and the nuclear spins via hyper ne interaction. This enables the optical neutral exciton eigenstates orientation without any external magnetic field. We have confi rmed these experimental results using a Fabry-Perot interferometer in order to increase the spectral resolution of our microphotoluminescence set up. In a second step, we present experiments performed in the coherent regime, in a time scale shorter than the system dephasing time, in a sample where the quantum dots are embedded in a Schottky-diode structure. The quantum dot is excited resonantly with short pulses (Fourier transform limited) and, using an original detection scheme, we detect the luminescence signal on a spectator state. We demonstrate the Rabi oscillations of the exciton state in a single quantum dot. Finally, using frequency swept chirped pulses, we show that it is possible to prepare robustly and with a strong fidelity an exciton state in a single quantum dot. This is a first step toward the Q-bit implementation and manipulation in a single quantum dot.
