Picosecond optical spectroscopy of a single negatively charged self-assembled InAs quantum dot

We demonstrate an experimental technique for the transient read-out of the optical transitions in a single negatively charged self-assembled InAs quantum dot (QD) using resonant picosecond optical pulses and control of the QD charge state. Observable phenomena include trion (negatively charged exciton) decay, Rabi oscillations between the electron and trion states and the precession of electron and heavy-hole spins about an externally applied dc magnetic field.