Time crystals exhibit unique oscillations over time, akin to the repetitive atomic structures found in traditional crystals like diamonds or ice. This phenomenon forms a new phase of matter where particles in a quantum system perpetually cycle in precise patterns through time, rather than space.
A specific category known as continuous time crystals (CTCs) demonstrates behavior similar to perpetual motion, maintaining ongoing oscillations without external energy input. Until recently, time crystals existed only in isolation, untouched by outside forces. However, groundbreaking research by scientists at Aalto University has successfully coupled a continuous time crystal to an external system, creating what is called an optomechanical system.
This breakthrough allows for tuning the crystal’s properties through interaction with a mechanical oscillator, a connection reminiscent of optical cavities used in advanced physics experiments like gravitational wave detection. In the study, researchers used radio waves to excite magnons—quasiparticles related to magnetic properties—in an ultra-cold superfluid helium-3 environment. When the external excitation ceased, the magnons formed a time crystal that oscillated steadily for about 108 cycles (several minutes).
As the time crystal’s motion gradually diminished, it began interacting with a nearby mechanical oscillator, with its frequency adjusting in ways precisely linked to the oscillator’s characteristics. This optomechanical coupling opens new research avenues, including applications in quantum computing where these stable oscillations could potentially serve as long-lasting memory components.
This discovery does not violate classical thermodynamics but rather explores quantum realms where traditional physical laws, like the second law of thermodynamics, behave differently. Continuous time crystals provide a new playground for revisiting these foundational scientific principles.
With further refinement, these hybrid time crystal systems could revolutionize quantum information technologies by improving the coherence and efficiency of quantum computers and creating ultra-sensitive sensors for detecting minute changes in physical phenomena.
In just under a decade since their first experimental realization in 2016, time crystals continue to unveil unexpected properties that challenge and enrich our understanding of matter and time.
