We present a microscopic theory of the optical properties of self-assembled quantum dots doped with a single magnetic manganese (Mn) impurity and containing a controlled number of electrons. The single-particle electron and heavy-hole electronic shel
ls are described by two-dimensional harmonic oscillators. The electron-electron, electron-hole Coulomb as well as the short-range electron spin-Mn spin and hole spin-Mn spin contact exchange interactions are included. The electronic states of the photo-excited electron-hole-Mn complex and of the final electron-Mn complex are expanded in a finite number of configurations and the full interacting Hamiltonian is diagonalized numerically. The emission spectrum is predicted as a function of photon energy for a given number of electrons and different number of confined electronic quantum dot shells. We show how emission spectra allow to identify the number of electronic shells, the number of electrons populating these shells and, most importantly, their spin. We show that electrons not interacting directly with the spin of Mn ion do so via electron-electron interactions. This indirect interaction is a strong effect even when Mn impurity is away from the quantum dot center.
We show theoretically and experimentally the existence of a new quantum interference(QI) effect between the electron-hole interactions and the scattering by a single Mn impurity. Theoretical model, including electron-valence hole correlations, the sh
ort and long range exchange interaction of Mn ion with the heavy hole and with electron and anisotropy of the quantum dot, is compared with photoluminescence spectroscopy of CdTe dots with single magnetic ions. We show how design of the electronic levels of a quantum dot enable the design of an exciton, control of the quantum interference and hence engineering of light-Mn interaction.
We present a theory for spin selective Aharonov-Bohm oscillations in a lateral triple quantum dot. We show that to understand the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect in an interacting electron system within a triple quantum dot molecule (TQD) where the dots li
e in a ring configuration requires one to not only consider electron charge but also spin. Using a Hubbard model supported by microscopic calculations we show that, by localizing a single electron spin in one of the dots, the current through the TQD molecule depends not only on the flux but also on the relative orientation of the spin of the incoming and localized electrons. AB oscillations are predicted only for the spin singlet electron complex resulting in a magnetic field tunable spin valve.
The spin-orbit interaction is a crucial element of many semiconductor spintronic technologies. Here we report the first experimental observation, by magneto-optical spectroscopy, of a remarkable consequence of the spin-orbit interaction for holes con
fined in the molecular states of coupled quantum dots. As the thickness of the barrier separating two coupled quantum dots is increased, the molecular ground state changes character from a bonding orbital to an antibonding orbital. This result is counterintuitive, and antibonding molecular ground states are never observed in natural diatomic molecules. We explain the origin of the reversal using a four band k.p model that has been validated by numerical calculations that account for strain. The discovery of antibonding molecular ground states provides new opportunities for the design of artificially structured materials with complex molecular properties that cannot be achieved in natural systems.
We present a theory of spin, electronic and transport properties of a few-electron lateral triangular triple quantum dot molecule in a magnetic field. Our theory is based on a generalization of a Hubbard model and the Linear Combination of Harmonic O
rbitals combined with Configuration Interaction method (LCHO-CI) for arbitrary magnetic fields. The few-particle spectra obtained as a function of the magnetic field exhibit Aharonov-Bohm oscillations. As a result, by changing the magnetic field it is possible to engineer the degeneracies of single-particle levels, and thus control the total spin of the many-electron system. For the triple dot with two and four electrons we find oscillations of total spin due to the singlet-triplet transitions occurring periodically in the magnetic field. In the three-electron system we find a transition from a magnetically frustrated to the spin-polarized state. We discuss the impact of these phase transitions on the addition spectrum and the spin blockade of the lateral triple quantum dot molecule.
We present a theory and experiment demonstrating optical readout of charge and spin in a single InAs/GaAs self-assembled quantum dot. By applying a magnetic field we create the filling factor 2 quantum Hall singlet phase of the charged exciton. Incre
asing or decreasing the magnetic field leads to electronic spin-flip transitions and increasing spin polarization. The increasing total spin of electrons appears as a manifold of closely spaced emission lines, while spin flips appear as discontinuities of emission lines. The number of multiplets and discontinuities measures the number of carriers and their spin. We present a complete analysis of the emission spectrum of a single quantum dot with N=4 electrons and a single hole, calculated and measured in magnetic fields up to 23 Tesla.
