Nuclear-spin-polarization-induced low-dimensional electron structures

In this paper we review recent findings on the possibility of electron confinement through local nuclear spin polarization into low-dimensional electron systems such as quantum dots, wires and rings. In the proposed systems, the spatially nonhomogeneously spin polarized nuclei create on effective hyperfine field which confines the electrons with spins opposite to the hyperfine field in the regions of maximal nuclear spin polarization. The properties of such systems are time-dependent because of nuclear spin relaxation and diffusion processes.