Observation of a phase transition from a continuous to a discrete time crystal.
KONGKHAMBUT, Phatthamon; COSME, Jayson G.; SKULTE, Jim; ARMIJOS, Michelle Alejandra Moreno; MATHEY, Ludwig; HEMMERICH, Andreas; KESSLER, Hans.
KONGKHAMBUT, Phatthamon; COSME, Jayson G.; SKULTE, Jim; ARMIJOS, Michelle Alejandra Moreno; MATHEY, Ludwig; HEMMERICH, Andreas; KESSLER, Hans.
Abstract: Discrete (DTCs) and continuous time crystals (CTCs) are novel dynamical many-body states, that are characterized by robust self-sustained oscillations, emerging via spontaneous breaking of discrete or continuous time translation symmetry. DTCs are periodically driven systems that oscillate with a subharmonic of the external drive, while CTCs are continuously driven and oscillate with a frequency intrinsic to the system. Here, we explore a phase transition from a continuous time crystal to a discrete time crystal. A CTC with a characteristic oscillation frequency ?CTC is prepared in a continuously pumped atom-cavity system. Modulating the pump intensity of the CTC with a frequency ?dr close to 2 ?CTC leads to robust locking of ?CTC to ?dr/2, and hence a DTC arises. This phase transition in a quantum many-body system is related to subharmonic injection locking of non-linear mechanical and electronic oscillators or lasers.
@article={003207368,author = {KONGKHAMBUT, Phatthamon; COSME, Jayson G.; SKULTE, Jim; ARMIJOS, Michelle Alejandra Moreno; MATHEY, Ludwig; HEMMERICH, Andreas; KESSLER, Hans.},title={Observation of a phase transition from a continuous to a discrete time crystal},journal={Reports on Progress in Physics},note={v. 87, p. 080502-1-080502-7},year={2024}}