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Quantum Time Crystals from Hamiltonians with Long-Range Interactions

Valerii K. Kozin and Oleksandr Kyriienko
Phys. Rev. Lett. 123, 210602 – Published 20 November 2019
Physics logo See Synopsis: A Time Crystal Without a Driver

Abstract

Time crystals correspond to a phase of matter where time-translational symmetry (TTS) is broken. Up to date, they are well studied in open quantum systems, where an external drive allows us to break discrete TTS, ultimately leading to Floquet time crystals. At the same time, genuine time crystals for closed quantum systems are believed to be impossible. In this study we propose a form of a Hamiltonian for which the unitary dynamics exhibits the time crystalline behavior and breaks continuous TTS. This is based on a spin-1/2 many-body Hamiltonian which has long-range multispin interactions in the form of spin strings, thus bypassing previously known no-go theorems. We show that quantum time crystals are stable to local perturbations at zero temperature. Finally, we reveal the intrinsic connection between continuous and discrete TTS, thus linking the two realms.

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  • Received 23 July 2019

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.210602

© 2019 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Quantum Information, Science & TechnologyGeneral Physics

Synopsis

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A Time Crystal Without a Driver

Published 20 November 2019

A calculation shows that an elusive, isolated quantum time crystal may not be far from reality.  

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Authors & Affiliations

Valerii K. Kozin1,2 and Oleksandr Kyriienko3,4,5

  • 1Science Institute, University of Iceland, Dunhagi 3, IS-107 Reykjavik, Iceland
  • 2ITMO University, Kronverkskiy prospekt 49, Saint Petersburg 197101, Russia
  • 3Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QL, United Kingdom
  • 4Department of Nanophotonics and Metamaterials, ITMO University, St. Petersburg, 197101, Russia
  • 5NORDITA, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University, Roslagstullsbacken 23, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden

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Issue

Vol. 123, Iss. 21 — 22 November 2019

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