Classical and quantum time crystals in a levitated nanoparticle without drive

Yi Huang, Qihao Guo, Anda Xiong, Tongcang Li, and Zhang-qi Yin
Phys. Rev. A 102, 023113 – Published 18 August 2020

Abstract

A time crystal is defined as a phase of matter spontaneously exhibiting a periodicity in time. Previous studies focused on discrete quantum time crystals under periodic drive. Here, we propose a time crystal model based on a levitated charged nanoparticle in a static magnetic field without drive. Both the classical time crystal in thermal equilibrium and the quantum time crystal in the ground state can emerge in the spin rotational mode, under a strong magnetic field or large charge-to-mass ratio limit. Additionally, the time polycrystal is defined and naturally appears in this model. Our model paves a way for realizing time crystals in thermal equilibrium.

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  • Received 7 February 2020
  • Accepted 21 July 2020

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.102.023113

©2020 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

  1. Physical Systems
Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied PhysicsAtomic, Molecular & Optical

Authors & Affiliations

Yi Huang1,2, Qihao Guo2, Anda Xiong3, Tongcang Li4,5,6,7, and Zhang-qi Yin8,*

  • 1School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
  • 2Department of Applied Physics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
  • 3School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, United Kingdom
  • 4Department of Physics and Astronomy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
  • 5School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
  • 6Birck Nanotechnology Center, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
  • 7Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering Institute, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, USA
  • 8Center of Quantum Technology Research, School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China

  • *zqyin@bit.edu.cn

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Issue

Vol. 102, Iss. 2 — August 2020

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