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Higher-order and fractional discrete time crystals in clean long-range interacting systems

Author

Listed:
  • Andrea Pizzi

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Johannes Knolle

    (Technische Universität München
    Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST)
    Imperial College London)

  • Andreas Nunnenkamp

    (University of Nottingham)

Abstract

Discrete time crystals are periodically driven systems characterized by a response with periodicity nT, with T the period of the drive and n > 1. Typically, n is an integer and bounded from above by the dimension of the local (or single particle) Hilbert space, the most prominent example being spin-1/2 systems with n restricted to 2. Here, we show that a clean spin-1/2 system in the presence of long-range interactions and transverse field can sustain a huge variety of different ‘higher-order’ discrete time crystals with integer and, surprisingly, even fractional n > 2. We characterize these (arguably prethermal) non-equilibrium phases of matter thoroughly using a combination of exact diagonalization, semiclassical methods, and spin-wave approximations, which enable us to establish their stability in the presence of competing long- and short-range interactions. Remarkably, these phases emerge in a model with continous driving and time-independent interactions, convenient for experimental implementations with ultracold atoms or trapped ions.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea Pizzi & Johannes Knolle & Andreas Nunnenkamp, 2021. "Higher-order and fractional discrete time crystals in clean long-range interacting systems," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:12:y:2021:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-021-22583-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22583-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Hossein Taheri & Andrey B. Matsko & Lute Maleki & Krzysztof Sacha, 2022. "All-optical dissipative discrete time crystals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.

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