Inhomogeneous Fermi and quantum spin systems on lattices

We study the thermodynamic properties of a certain type of space-inhomogeneous Fermi and quantum spin systems on lattices. We are particularly interested in the case where the space scale of the inhomogeneities stays macroscopic, but very small as compared to the side-length of the box containing fermions or spins. The present study is however not restricted to "macroscopic inhomogeneities" and also includes the (periodic) microscopic and mesoscopic cases. We prove that - as in the homogeneous case - the pressure is, up to a minus sign, the conservative value of a two-person zero-sum game, named here thermodynamic game. Because of the absence of space symmetries in such inhomogeneous systems, it is not clear from the beginning what kind of object equilibrium states should be in the thermodynamic limit. However, we give rigorous statements on correlations functions for large boxes. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4763465]

Spin coherence generation in negatively charged self-assembled (In,Ga)As quantum dots by pumping excited trion states

Spin coherence generation in an ensemble of negatively charged (In,Ga)As/GaAs quantum dots was investigated by picosecond time-resolved pump-probe spectroscopy measuring ellipticity. Robust coherence of the ground-state electron spins is generated by pumping excited charged exciton (trion) states. The phase of the coherent state, as evidenced by the spin ensemble precession about an external magnetic field, varies relative to spin coherence generation resonant with the ground state. The phase variation depends on the pump photon energy. It is determined by (a) pumping dominantly either singlet or triplet excited states, leading to a phase inversion, and (b) the subsequent carrier relaxation into the ground states. From the dependence of the precession phase and the measured g factors, information about the quantum dot shell splitting and the exchange energy splitting between triplet and singlet states can be extracted in the ensemble.