Spin redistribution due to Pauli blocking in quantum dots - art. no. 045309

We have studied electron spin dynamics in self-organized InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QD's) by time-resolved photoluminescence (PL). The electron polarizat ion of the QD discrete energy levels is determined from the circular polari zation of the QD emission. When the GaAs barrier is optically pumped, a tra nsient increase of the QD excited-state PL polarization is observed. This e ffect results from the spin dependence of electron energy relaxation as a c onsequence of the Pauli exclusion principle. A theoretical model qualitativ ely describing the experimental results is developed.