  We study the spin dynamics in charged quantum dots in the situation where the
resident electron is coupled to only about 200 nuclear spins and where the
electron spin splitting induced by the Overhauser field does not exceed
markedly the spectral broadening. The formation of a dynamical nuclear
polarization as well as its subsequent decay by the dipole-dipole interaction
is directly resolved in time. Because not limited by intrinsic nonlinearities,
almost complete nuclear polarization is achieved, even at elevated
temperatures. The data suggest a nonequilibrium mode of nuclear polarization,
distinctly different from the spin temperature concept exploited on bulk
semiconductors
