arXiv subjects

E. Kirstein

Publications and source records attributed to E. Kirstein.

15 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Optical cooling of nuclear spins in GaAs/(Al,Ga)As quantum wells at subkelvin temperatures: Evidence of the dynamic self-polarization of nuclear spins

We investigate the dynamic polarization of nuclear spins in a nominally undoped GaAs/Al$_{0.35}$Ga$_{0.65}$As quantum well using two complementary experimental approaches: time-resolved Kerr rotation and optical orientation measurements of photoluminescence. Using the first technique, we measure a remarkably large Overhauser field of 3.1 T in a geometry close to the Faraday configuration for a 19.7 nm wide quantum well at a temperature of 1.6 K. A nuclear spin temperature of 6.4 $μ$K is measured at an external magnetic field of 0.006 T following an adiabatic sweep from 0.6 T. Despite the quadrupole-induced nuclear spin splitting inherent to nanostructures, the nuclear spin system is found to follow the predictions of spin temperature theory. Using the optical orientation of the photoluminescence, we investigated nuclear spin dynamics at millikelvin temperatures down to 300 mK. At a temperature of 500 mK, an Overhauser field of 160 mT is generated in an oblique but nearly Voigt magnetic field using low optical power to avoid heating. The nuclear polarization build-up time is of 150 s, consistent with earlier reports at higher temperatures, where hyperfine scattering on free photoexcited electrons governs relaxation. At 500 mK, the onset of dynamic self-polarization of nuclear spins is observed, which becomes more pronounced as the lattice temperature is further reduced to 300 mK. The estimated nuclear spin temperature in the dynamic self-polarization regime can be as low as 200 nK.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2025

Topological magneto-optics in the non-coplanar antiferromagnet Co_{1/3}NbS_2: Imaging and writing chiral magnetic domains

Despite its tiny net magnetization, the antiferromagnetic (AFM) van der Waals material Co$_{1/3}$NbS$_2$ exhibits a large transverse Hall conductivity $σ_{xy}$ even at zero applied magnetic field, which arises, as recently shown, from the topological nature of its non-coplanar ``tetrahedral'' AFM order. This triple-Q magnetic order can be regarded as the short-lengthscale limit of a magnetic skyrmion lattice, and has an intrinsic spin chirality. Here we show, using optical wavelengths spanning the ultraviolet to infrared (400-1000 nm), that magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) provides an incisive optical probe of the topological AFM order in Co$_{1/3}$NbS$_2$. Measurements as a continuous function of photon energy are directly compared with first-principles calculations, revealing the influence of the underlying quantum geometry on optical conductivity. Leveraging the power and flexibility of optical methods, we use scanning MCD microscopy to directly image chiral AFM domains, and demonstrate writing of chiral AFM domains.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Spin-Flip Raman Scattering on Electrons and Holes in Two-Dimensional (PEA)$_2$PbI$_4$ Perovskites

The class of Ruddlesden-Popper type (PEA)$_2$PbI$_4$ perovskites comprises two-dimensional (2D) structures whose optical properties are determined by excitons with a large binding energy of about 260 meV. It complements the family of other 2D semiconductor materials by having the band structure typical for lead halide perovskites, that can be considered as inverted compared to conventional III-V and II-VI semiconductors. Accordingly, novel spin phenomena can be expected for them. Spin-flip Raman scattering is used here to measure the Zeeman splitting of electrons and holes in a magnetic field up to 10 T. From the recorded data, the electron and hole Landé factors ($g$-factors) are evaluated, their signs are determined, and their anisotropies are measured. The electron $g$-factor value changes from $+2.11$ out-of-plane to $+2.50$ in-plane, while the hole $g$-factor ranges between $-0.13$ and $-0.51$. The spin flips of the resident carriers are arranged via their interaction with photogenerated excitons. Also the double spin-flip process, where a resident electron and a resident hole interact with the same exciton, is observed showing a cumulative Raman shift. Dynamic nuclear spin polarization induced by spin-polarized holes is detected in corresponding changes of the hole Zeeman splitting. An Overhauser field of the polarized nuclei acting on the holes as large as $0.6$ T can be achieved.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Weak dispersion of exciton Landé factor with band gap energy in lead halide perovskites: Approximate compensation of the electron and hole dependences

The photovoltaic and optoelectronic properties of lead halide perovskite semiconductors are controlled by excitons, so that investigation of their fundamental properties is of critical importance. The exciton Landé or g-factor g_X is the key parameter, determining the exciton Zeeman spin splitting in magnetic fields. The exciton, electron and hole carrier g-factors provide information on the band structure, including its anisotropy, and the parameters contributing to the electron and hole effective masses. We measure g_X by reflectivity in magnetic fields up to 60 T for lead halide perovskite crystals. The materials band gap energies at a liquid helium temperature vary widely across the visible spectral range from 1.520 up to 3.213 eV in hybrid organic-inorganic and fully inorganic perovskites with different cations and halogens: FA_{0.9}Cs_{0.1}PbI_{2.8}Br_{0.2], MAPbI_{3}, FAPbBr_{3}, CsPbBr_{3}, and MAPb(Br_{0.05}Cl_{0.95})_{3}. We find the exciton g-factors to be nearly constant, ranging from +2.3 to +2.7. Thus, the strong dependences of the electron and hole g-factors on the band gap roughly compensate each other when combining to the exciton g-factor. The same is true for the anisotropies of the carrier g-factors, resulting in a nearly isotropic exciton g-factor. The experimental data are compared favorably with model calculation results.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2023

Evidencing the squeezed dark nuclear spin state in lead halide perovskites

Coherent many-body states are highly promising for robust and scalable quantum information processing. While far-reaching theoretical predictions have been made for various implementations, direct experimental evidence of their appealing properties can be challenging. Here, we demonstrate coherent optical manipulation of the nuclear spin ensemble in the lead halide perovskite semiconductor FAPbBr$_3$ (FA=formamidinium), targeting a long-postulated collective dark state that is insensitive to optical pumping. Via optical orientation of localized hole spins we drive the nuclear many-body system into an entangled state, requiring a weak magnetic field of only a few Millitesla strength at cryogenic temperatures. During its fast build-up, the nuclear polarization along the optical axis remains small, while the transverse nuclear spin fluctuations are strongly reduced, corresponding to spin squeezing as evidenced by a strong violation of the generalized nuclear squeezing-inequality with $ξ_s < 0.3$. The dark state evidenced in this process corresponds to an approximately 750-body entanglement between the nuclei. Dark nuclear spin states can be exploited to store quantum information benefiting from their long-lived many-body coherence and to perform quantum measurements with a precision beyond the standard limit.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Mode locking of hole spin coherences in CsPb(Cl,Br)$_3$ perovskite nanocrystals

The spin physics of perovskite nanocrystals with confined electrons or holes is attracting increasing attention, both for fundamental studies and spintronic applications. Here, stable CsPb(Cl$_{0.5}$Br$_{0.5}$)$_3$ lead halide perovskite nanocrystals embedded in a fluorophosphate glass matrix are studied by time-resolved optical spectroscopy to unravel the coherent spin dynamics of holes and their interaction with nuclear spins of the $^{207}$Pb isotope. We demonstrate the spin mode locking effect provided by the synchronization of the Larmor precession of single hole spins in each nanocrystal in the ensemble that are excited periodically by a laser in an external magnetic field. The mode locking is enhanced by nuclei-induced frequency focusing. An ensemble spin dephasing time $T_2^*$ of a nanosecond and a single hole spin coherence time of $T_2=13\,$ns are measured. The developed theoretical model accounting for the mode locking and nuclear focusing for randomly oriented nanocrystals with perovskite band structure describes the experimental data very well.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Spin dynamics of electrons and holes interacting with nuclei in MAPbI$_3$ perovskite single crystals

Methylammonium lead triiodine (MAPbI$_3$) is a material representative of the hybrid organic-inorganic lead halide perovskites which attract currently great attention due to their photovoltaic efficiency and bright optoelectronic properties. Here, the coherent spin dynamics of charge carriers and spin dependent phenomena induced by the carrier interaction with nuclear spins are studied in MAPbI$_3$ single crystals, using time-resolved Kerr rotation at cryogenic temperatures in magnetic fields up to 3 T. Spin dephasing times up to a few nanoseconds and a longitudinal spin relaxation time of 37 ns are measured. The Larmor spin precession of both resident electrons and holes is identified in the Kerr rotation signals. The Landé factors ($g$-factors) in the orthorhombic crystal phase show a strong anisotropy, ranging for the holes from $-0.28$ to $-0.71$ and for the electrons from $+2.46$ to $+2.98$, while the $g$-factor dispersion of about 1% is rather small. An exciton $g$-factor of $+2.3$ is measured by magneto-reflectivity. A dynamic nuclear polarization by means of spin polarized electrons and holes is achieved in tilted magnetic fields giving access to the carrier-nuclei exchange interaction and the nuclei spin relaxation time exceeding 16 minutes.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2021

The Landé factors of electrons and holes in lead halide perovskites: universal dependence on the band gap

The Landé or $g$-factors of charge carriers are decisive for the spin-dependent phenomena in solids and provide also information about the underlying electronic band structure. We present a comprehensive set of experimental data for values and anisotropies of the electron and hole Landé factors in hybrid organic-inorganic (MAPbI$_3$, MAPb(Br$_{0.5}$Cl$_{0.5}$)$_3$, MAPb(Br$_{0.05}$Cl$_{0.95}$)$_3$, FAPbBr$_3$, FA$_{0.9}$Cs$_{0.1}$PbI$_{2.8}$Br$_{0.2}$) and all-inorganic (CsPbBr$_3$) lead halide perovskites, determined by pump-probe Kerr rotation and spin-flip Raman scattering in magnetic fields up to 10~T at cryogenic temperatures. Further, we use first-principles DFT calculations in combination with tight-binding and $\mathbf k \cdot \mathbf p$ approaches to calculate microscopically the Landé factors. The results demonstrate their universal dependence on the band gap energy across the different perovskite material classes, which can be summarized in a universal semi-phenomenological expression, in good agreement with experiment.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Spin polarization recovery and Hanle effect for charge carriers interacting with nuclear spins in semiconductors

We report on theoretical and experimental study of the spin polarization recovery and Hanle effect for the charge carriers interacting with the fluctuating nuclear spins in the semiconductor structures. We start the theoretical description from the simplest model of static and isotropic nuclear spin fluctuations. Then we describe the modification of the polarization recovery and Hanle curves due to the anisotropy of the hyperfine interaction, finite nuclear spin correlation time, and the strong pulsed spin excitation. For the latter case, we describe the resonance spin amplification effect in the Faraday geometry and discuss the manifestations of the quantum Zeno effect. The set of the experimental results for various structures and experimental conditions is chosen to highlight the specific effects predicted theoretically. We show that the spin polarization recovery is a very valuable tool for addressing carrier spin dynamics in semiconductors and their nanostructures.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Voltage control of the long-range p-d exchange coupling in a ferromagnet-semiconductor quantum well hybrid structure

Voltage control of ferromagnetism on the nanometer scale is highly appealing for the development of novel electronic devices. Here a key challenge is to implement and combine low power consumption, high operation speed, reliable reversibility and compatibility with semiconductor technology. Hybrid structures based on the assembly of ferromagnetic and semiconducting building blocks are attractive candidates in that respect as such systems bring together the properties of the isolated constituents: They are expected to show magnetic order as a ferromagnet and to be electrically tunable as a semiconductor. Here we demonstrate the electrical control of the exchange coupling in a hybrid consisting of a ferromagnetic Co layer and a semiconductor CdTe quantum well, separated by a thin non-magnetic (Cd,Mg)Te barrier. The effective magnetic field of the exchange interaction reaches up to 2.5 Tesla and can be turned on and off by application of 1 V bias across the heterostructure. The mechanism of this electric field control is essentially different from the conventional concept, in which wavefunctions are spatially redistributed to vary the exchange interaction, requiring high field strengths. Here we address instead control of the novel exchange mechanism that is mediated by elliptically polarized phonons emitted from the ferromagnet, i.e. the phononic ac Stark effect. An essential parameter of this coupling is the splitting between heavy and light hole states in the quantum well which can be varied by the electric field induced band bending. Thereby the splitting can be tuned with respect to the magnon-phonon resonance energy in the ferromagnet, leading to maximum coupling for flat band conditions. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of electrically controlled exchange coupling in hybrid semiconductor nanostructures at quite moderate electric field strengths.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Spin Inertia of Resident and Photoexcited Carriers in Singly-Charged Quantum Dots

The spin dynamics in a broad range of systems can be studied using circularly polarized optical excitation with alternating helicity. The dependence of spin polarization on the frequency of helicity alternation, known as the spin inertia effect, is used here to study the spin dynamics in singly-charged (In,Ga)As/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) providing insight into spin generation and accumulation processes. We demonstrate that the dependence of spin polarization in $n$- and $p$-type QDs on the external magnetic field has a characteristic V- and M-like shape, respectively. This difference is related to different microscopic mechanisms of resident carriers spin orientation. It allows us to determine the parameters of the spin dynamics both for the ground and excited states of singly-charged QDs.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2018

Theory of spin inertia in singly-charged quantum dots

The spin inertia measurement is a recently emerged tool to study slow spin dynamics, which is based on the excitation of the system by a train of circularly polarized pulses with alternating helicity. Motivated by the experimental results reported in E. A. Zhukov et al., arXiv:1806.11100 we develop the general theory of spin inertia of localized charge carriers. We demonstrate that the spin inertia measurement in longitudinal magnetic field allows one to determine the parameters of the spin dynamics of resident charge carriers and of photoexcited trions, such as the spin relaxation times, longitudinal g-factors, parameters of hyperfine interaction and nuclear spin correlation times.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2017

Long-range p-d exchange interaction in a ferromagnet-semiconductor Co/CdMgTe/CdTe quantum well hybrid structure

The exchange interaction between magnetic ions and charge carriers in semiconductors is considered as prime tool for spin control. Here, we solve a long-standing problem by uniquely determining the magnitude of the long-range $p-d$ exchange interaction in a ferromagnet-semiconductor (FM-SC) hybrid structure where a 10~nm thick CdTe quantum well is separated from the FM Co layer by a CdMgTe barrier with a thickness on the order of 10~nm. The exchange interaction is manifested by the spin splitting of acceptor bound holes in the effective magnetic field induced by the FM. The exchange splitting is directly evaluated using spin-flip Raman scattering by analyzing the dependence of the Stokes shift $Δ_S$ on the external magnetic field $B$. We show that in strong magnetic field $Δ_S$ is a linear function of $B$ with an offset of $Δ_{pd} = 50-100~μ$eV at zero field from the FM induced effective exchange field. On the other hand, the $s-d$ exchange interaction between conduction band electrons and FM, as well as the $p-d$ contribution for free valence band holes, are negligible. The results are well described by the model of indirect exchange interaction between acceptor bound holes in the CdTe quantum well and the FM layer mediated by elliptically polarized phonons in the hybrid structure.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Dynamics of nuclear spin polarization induced and detected by coherently precessing electron spins in fluorine-doped ZnSe

We study the dynamics of optically-induced nuclear spin polarization in a fluorine-doped ZnSe epilayer via time-resolved Kerr rotation. The nuclear polarization in the vicinity of a fluorine donor is induced by interaction with coherently precessing electron spins in a magnetic field applied in the Voigt geometry. It is detected by nuclei-induced changes in the electron spin coherence signal. This all-optical technique allows us to measure the longitudinal spin relaxation time $T_{1}$ of the $^{77}\text{Se}$ isotope in a magnetic field range from 10 to 130~mT under illumination. We combine the optical technique with radio frequency methods to address the coherent spin dynamics of the nuclei and measure Rabi oscillations, Ramsey fringes and the nuclear spin echo. The inhomogeneous spin dephasing time $T_{2}^{*}$ and the spin coherence time $T_{2}$ of the $^{77}\text{Se}$ isotope are measured. While the $T_{1}$ time is on the order of several milliseconds, the $T_{2}$ time is several hundred microseconds. The experimentally determined condition $T_{1}\gg T_{2}$ verifies the validity of the classical model of nuclear spin cooling for describing the optically-induced nuclear spin polarization.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Inhomogeneous nuclear spin polarization induced by helicity-modulated optical excitation of fluorine-bound electron spins in ZnSe

Optically-induced nuclear spin polarization in a fluorine-doped ZnSe epilayer is studied by time-resolved Kerr rotation using resonant excitation of donor-bound excitons. Excitation with helicity-modulated laser pulses results in a transverse nuclear spin polarization, which is detected as a change of the Larmor precession frequency of the donor-bound electron spins. The frequency shift in dependence on the transverse magnetic field exhibits a pronounced dispersion-like shape with resonances at the fields of nuclear magnetic resonance of the constituent zinc and selenium isotopes. It is studied as a function of external parameters, particularly of constant and radio frequency external magnetic fields. The width of the resonance and its shape indicate a strong spatial inhomogeneity of the nuclear spin polarization in the vicinity of a fluorine donor. A mechanism of optically-induced nuclear spin polarization is suggested based on the concept of resonant nuclear spin cooling driven by the inhomogeneous Knight field of the donor-bound electron.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗