Time crystal

A time crystal is a kind of quantum system. It changes in a repeating way over time, even when it is in its lowest-energy state (the ground state). It does this without taking in energy from outside.

An ordinary crystal has atoms in a pattern that repeats in space. A time crystal has a pattern that repeats in time.

History

• 2012: Nobel Prize winner Frank Wilczek first suggested the idea.
• 2017: Chris Monroe and his team found signs of time-crystal behaviour in chains of ytterbium ions.
• 2021: Scientists made the first video of a time crystal.
• 2024: Scientists at the Technical University of Dortmund said they built a time crystal that lasted for forty minutes.

Possible uses

Time crystals may one day be used as quantum memory.

In fiction

Writers of science fiction sometimes use the name "time crystal" for imaginary objects. These are not the same as real time crystals.

See also

• Quantum entanglement

References

1. ↑ Zakrzewski, Jakub; Wilczek, F. (2017-02-02). "Physics - Viewpoint: Crystals of Time". Physical Review Letters. 5 (16): 116. arXiv:1202.2537. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.109.160402. PMID 23215057. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
2. ↑ Richerme, Phil (2017-01-18). "How to Create a Time Crystal". Physics. 10 5. Bibcode:2017PhyOJ..10....5R. doi:10.1103/Physics.10.5.
3. ↑ "Watch the First-Ever Video of a Time Crystal Oscillating". ScienceAlert. 26 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
4. ↑ "Scientists Built a Time Crystal That Lasted for 40 Minutes". Popular Mechanics. 2024-02-24. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
5. ↑ "Physicists Create World's First Time Crystal". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 2021-05-29.