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Demagnetization of Quantum Dot Nuclear Spins: Breakdown of the Nuclear Spin Temperature Approach

, , and . (2009)cite arxiv:0901.2289 Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures.

Abstract

The description of nuclear spin systems using a thermal state with a well defined nuclear spin temperature has had tremendous success in explaining a variety of experimental observations on solid-state nuclear spin systems. Using demagnetization experiments we demonstrate that the mesoscopic nuclear spin ensemble of a quantum dot can in general not be described by a spin temperature, even for observation time-scales exceeding minutes. We associate the striking deviations from a thermal spin state with the presence of strong quadrupolar interactions within the quantum dot. Strain-induced, inhomogeneous quadrupolar shifts with position dependent axes result in a breakdown of adiabaticity during magnetic field sweeps and thereby cause an irreversible loss of nuclear spin polarization. At the same time, quadrupolar interactions lead to a complete suppression of angular momentum exchange between the nuclear spin ensemble and its environment, resulting in nuclear spin relaxation times on the order of hours.

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Demagnetization of Quantum Dot Nuclear Spins: Breakdown of the Nuclear Spin Temperature Approach

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