Controlling the nuclear polarization in quantum dots using optical pulse shape with a modest bandwidth

We show that detuned optical pulse trains with a modest spectral width can polarize nuclear spins in indium arsenide quantum dots. The pulse bandwidth is large enough to excite a coherent superposition of both electron spin eigenstates in these negatively charged dots but narrow enough to give partial spectral selectivity between the eigenstates. The coherent precession of electron spin states and periodic excitation focuses the nuclear spin distribution, producing a discrete set of precession modes. The spectral selectivity generates a net nuclear polarization through a mechanism that relies on optical spin rotations rather than electron spin relaxation.