Transient nonlinear spectroscopy and Rabi oscillations of single quantum dots

Summary form only given. Direct observations of the dynamics of single excitonic quantum dots require the use of transient optical spectroscopy. Measurements of the lifetimes of single QD states, Rabi oscillations, biexciton formation and decay, and the development of quantum logic gates are examples of dynamical effects in quantum dots most easily studied through transient nonlinear spectroscopy, but are extremely challenging at the single dot level. We report here the first observation of transient differential transmission from single quantum dots as well as evidence of Rabi oscillations in single quantum dots.Under investigation are quantum dots naturally formed by interface fluctuations in a 42 /spl Aring/ GaAs/Al/sub 0.3/Ga/sub 0.7/As quantum well. Excitons in isolated QD´s are probed through 500 nm apertures in an Al mask laid directly onto the sample´s surface.