Hole spin dynamic study in InAs/GaAs quantums dots : optical pumping, relaxation, nuclear effects

The spin of a carrier confined in a semiconductor quantum dot (QD) is an observable highly protected from the environment. It's a promising candidate to be a new vector of information for spintronic or quantum calculation based devices. Indeed, the confinement induces the suppression of the relaxation mechanisms linked to the carrier move in the space. In this thesis different aspects about the resident hole spin dynamic in InAs p-doped QDs are studied. The first part is dedicated to the microscopic description of the time resolved pump-probe experiment as well as the mechanisms of hole spin polarization under resonaznat and non resonant excitation. Second, the question about the nature of the mechanisms which induce the total hole spin relaxation is studied. The works performed at the INSP have highlighted that the hole spin relaxation is dominated by the dipolar term of the hyperfine interaction. This interaction leads to a partial relaxation of the hole spin polarization in a characteristic time of 10 ns. With the aim of exploring longer dynamics (100 ns - 1 ms), I have proceeded to a novel experiment which is based on a frequency analysis. Through the magnetic field and the temperature dependencies of long time-scale hole spin relaxation, the ultimate mechanisms of spin relaxation are determined. As well, a study about the possibility to induce a nuclear polarization by the hole spin is performed. Indeed, when the career spin relaxes, it hands his spin kinetic momentum to the nuclear bath. If this process is repeated faster than the relaxation time of nuclei, the nuclear bath can be polarized. This phenomenon has already been observed in QDs. Nevertheless, it always has been associated to the electron. In our sample, we have obtained a possible signature of nuclear polarization created by the hole. This polarization generates an effective magnetic field of around one milli-Teslat. Notice that, the nuclear polarization, with extended spin life-times, can also be used as a robust spin information media. The last part of the thesis is dedicated to the hole spin Qbit coherence. The hole spins are analysed in transverse magnetic field. In this configuration we have demonstrated the mode locking of the hole spin precession and measured the intrinsic coherence time around one micro-second. This value, in the one hand, demonstrates the interest of hole spin as a robust candidate to code quantum information, and in the other hand, opens the door to quantum manipulations such as the phase control of the spin Qbit with the optical Strak effect.

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Source https://theses.hal.science/tel-00839368
Author Fras, François
Maintainer CCSD
Last Updated May 10, 2026, 13:08 (UTC)
Created May 10, 2026, 13:08 (UTC)
Identifier tel-00839368
Language fr
Rights https://about.hal.science/hal-authorisation-v1/
contributor Institut des Nanosciences de Paris (INSP) ; Université Pierre et Marie Curie - Paris 6 (UPMC)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
creator Fras, François
date 2011-12-02T00:00:00
harvest_object_id 830c8630-0583-4f2d-b2b4-bd21964ae1e9
harvest_source_id 3374d638-d20b-4672-ba96-a23232d55657
harvest_source_title test moissonnage SELUNE
metadata_modified 2026-03-27T00:00:00
set_spec type:THESE