Observation of a discrete time crystal
J. Zhang, P. W. Hess, A. Kyprianidis, C. Monroe · Full author list: J. Zhang, P. W. Hess, A. Kyprianidis, P. Becker, A. Lee, J. Smith, G. Pagano, I.-D. Potirniche, A. C. Potter, A. Vishwanath, N. Y. Yao, C. Monroe (12 authors).
Summary
The authors experimentally realize a discrete (Floquet) time crystal using a chain of trapped atomic ions driven periodically into a many-body-localized regime. The system spontaneously breaks the discrete time-translation symmetry of the drive, exhibiting a subharmonic oscillation at a period that is a rational multiple of the drive period. This rigid, period-doubled response persists despite perturbations to the drive, confirming the predicted time-crystalline phase.
Key findings
- First experimental observation of a discrete time crystal in a driven trapped-ion spin chain.
- Demonstrates a subharmonic (period-doubled) response that is rigid against perturbations of the driving Hamiltonian.
- Establishes many-body localization plus periodic driving as a route to stabilize a nonequilibrium phase of matter.
Subjects & keywords
Cite this paper
J. Zhang, P. W. Hess, A. Kyprianidis, & C. Monroe [Full author list: J. Zhang, P. W. Hess, A. Kyprianidis, P. Becker, A. Lee, J. Smith, G. Pagano, I.-D. Potirniche, A. C. Potter, A. Vishwanath, N. Y. Yao, C. Monroe (12 authors).] (2017). Observation of a discrete time crystal. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature21413
@article{zhang2017observation,
author = {J. Zhang and P. W. Hess and A. Kyprianidis and C. Monroe and {Full author list: J. Zhang, P. W. Hess, A. Kyprianidis, P. Becker, A. Lee, J. Smith, G. Pagano, I.-D. Potirniche, A. C. Potter, A. Vishwanath, N. Y. Yao, C. Monroe (12 authors).}},
title = {Observation of a discrete time crystal},
journal = {Nature},
year = {2017},
doi = {10.1038/nature21413},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/nature21413}
}