Optical signatures of spin dependent coupling in semimagnetic quantum dot molecules

Abstract

We present photoluminescence studies of CdTe and CdMnTe quantum dots grown in two adjacent layers. We show that when the dots are 8 nm apart, their magnetooptical properties - Zeeman shifts and transition linewidths - are analogous to those of individual CdTe or CdMnTe dots. When the dots are grown closer, at a distance of 4 nm, it becomes possible to tune the electron states to resonance and obtain a formation of a molecular state hybridized over the two dots. As a result of the resonant enhancement of the electron-Mn ion exchange interaction, spectroscopic signatures specific to spin-dependent inter-dot coupling appear. Namely, an anomalous increase of the Zeeman shift and a resonant increase in the transition linewidth are observed. A simple model calculation allows us to quantitatively reproduce the experimental results.

submitted to Physical Review B