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.[1][2]

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.[3]
  • 2024: Scientists at the Technical University of Dortmund said they built a time crystal that lasted for forty minutes.[4]

Possible uses

Time crystals may one day be used as quantum memory.[5]

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

References

  1. ↑ "Physics - Viewpoint: Crystals of Time". Physics. 2017-02-02. Retrieved 2021-05-29.
  2. ↑ Richerme, Phil (2017-01-18). "How to Create a Time Crystal". Physics. 10: 5. doi:10.1103/Physics.10.5.
  3. ↑ "Watch the First-Ever Video of a Time Crystal Oscillating". ScienceAlert. 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.
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