We have studied theoretically electron spin relaxation in semiconductor quantum dots via interaction with nuclear spins. The relaxation is shown to be determined by three processes: (i) the precession of the electron spin in the hyperfine field of the frozen fluctuation of the nuclear spins; (ii) the precession of the nuclear spins in the hyperfine field of the electron; and (iii) the precession of the nuclear spin in the dipole field of its nuclear neighbors. In external magnetic fields the relaxation of electron spins directed along the magnetic field is suppressed. Electron spins directed transverse to the magnetic field relax completely in a time on the order of the precession period of its spin in the field of the frozen fluctuation of the nuclear spins. Comparison with experiment shows that the hyperfine interaction with nuclei may be the dominant mechanism of electron spin relaxation in quantum dots.

• Received 11 October 2001

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.65.205309