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Optical probing of spin fluctuations of a single magnetic atom
Author(s) -
Besombes Lucien,
Léger Yoan,
Bernos Julien,
Legall Claire,
Boukari Herve,
Poizat Jean Philippe,
Mariette Henri
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
physica status solidi (b)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.51
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1521-3951
pISSN - 0370-1972
DOI - 10.1002/pssb.200880651
Subject(s) - condensed matter physics , physics , spin (aerodynamics) , paramagnetism , photon , intermittency , atom (system on chip) , magnetic field , quantum dot , relaxation (psychology) , photoluminescence , quantum mechanics , optoelectronics , psychology , social psychology , computer science , turbulence , thermodynamics , embedded system
We analyzed the photoluminescence intermittency generated by a single paramagnetic spin localized in an individual semiconductor quantum dot (QD). The statistics of the photons emitted by the QD reflect the quantum fluctuations of the localized spin. We report photon correlation measurements that reveal unique signatures of these fluctuations. A phenomenological model is proposed to quantitatively describe these observations, allowing a measurement of the spin dynamics of an individual magnetic atom at zero magnetic field. The data demonstrate the existence of a spin relaxation channel arising from a spin‐exchange with individual free carriers surrounding the QD. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)