Signature of the Overhauser field on the coherent spin dynamics of donor-bound electron in a single CdTe quantum well

Abstract

We have studied the coherent spin dynamics in an oblique magnetic field of electrons localized on donors and placed in the middle of a single CdTe quantum well, by using a time-resolved optical technique: the photo-induced Faraday rotation. We showed that this dynamics is affected by a weak Overhauser field created via the hyperfine interaction of optically spin-polarized donor-bound electrons with the surrounding nuclear isotopes carrying non-zero spins. We have measured this nuclear field, which is on the order of a few mT and can reach a maximum experimental value of 9.4 mT. This value represents 13 % of the maximal nuclear polarization, and corresponds also to 13 % of maximal electronic polarization.