  We demonstrate dynamical nuclear spin polarization in the absence of an
external magnetic field, by resonant circularly polarized optical excitation of
a single electron or hole charged quantum dot. Optical pumping of the electron
spin induces an effective inhomogeneous magnetic (Knight) field that determines
the direction along which nuclear spins could polarize and enables nuclear-spin
cooling by suppressing depolarization induced by nuclear dipole-dipole
interactions. Our observations suggest a new mechanism for spin-polarization
where spin exchange with an electron reservoir plays a crucial role. These
experiments constitute a first step towards quantum measurement of the
Overhauser field.
