Spontaneous breaking of a discrete time-translation symmetry

J. Smits, H. T. C. Stoof, and P. van der Straten

Phys. Rev. A 104, 023318 – Published 20 August 2021

Abstract

Spontaneous symmetry breaking is a ubiquitous concept and is well described in many textbooks of physics. However, direct observation of spontaneous symmetry breaking is lacking. Here we present the observation and analysis of a spontaneously broken discrete time-translation symmetry in our driven system. We experimentally find a 50-50 split between two stable and temporal-distinct solutions, indicative of the breaking of a $Z_{2}$ (Ising-like) time-translation symmetry. The experiment allows for further exploration of the symmetry breaking in our discrete time crystal and for engineering excitations in space and time in the quantum domain.

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Received 26 March 2021
Revised 30 July 2021
Accepted 2 August 2021

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.104.023318

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Phase transitions Superfluidity

Ultracold gases

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

J. Smits ¹, H. T. C. Stoof², and P. van der Straten^1,*

¹Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science and Center for Extreme Matter and Emergent Phenomena, Utrecht University, PO Box 80.000, 3508 TA Utrecht, Netherlands
²Institute for Theoretical Physics and Center for Extreme Matter and Emergent Phenomena, Utrecht University, PO Box 80.000, 3508 TA Utrecht, Netherlands

^*p.vanderstraten@uu.nl

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Vol. 104, Iss. 2 — August 2021

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