Research

Basic Objectives

The objectives of this research project are to perform optical experiments, such as

• Hanle Effect
• time-resolved Kerr rotation
• time-resolved polarization decay

and combined optical-microwave experiments, such as

• optically-detected magnetic resonance
• optically-detected spin echo

on three specific sets of III-V semiconductor nanostructures

• GaAs quantum wells and "interface fluctuation" quantum dots
• "self-assembled" InAs quantum dots
• GaAs spin-LEDs

in order to

• obtain important information about the spin dynamics in those nanostructures (such as T2*, T2, and T1 spin lifetimes), and
• develop new techniques (such as Kerr rotation-detected spin echo) which will be usable to characterize other semiconductor systems in the future.

This has the potential to add significantly to knowledge which will be helpful in making quantum computing possible and spintronics more useful. Details on the experiments will follow.

Laboratory

We've moved into BYU's newly-remodeled Underground Lab. View the time-lapse movie showing our progress (requires Flash player).