Higher-order and fractional discrete time crystals in Floquet-driven Rydberg atoms.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 39523329.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-024-53712-5 and PMC identifier 11551158.
- Licence recorded as CC BY-NC-ND.
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Abstract
Higher-order and fractional discrete time crystals (DTCs) are exotic phases of matter where the discrete time translation symmetry is broken into higher-order and non-integer category. Generation of these unique DTCs has been widely studied theoretically in different systems. However, no current experimental methods can probe these higher-order and fractional DTCs in any quantum many-body systems. We demonstrate an experimental approach to observe higher-order and fractional DTCs in Floquet-driven Rydberg atomic gases. We have discovered multiple n-DTCs with integer values of n = 2, 3, and 4, and others ranging up to 14, along with fractional n-DTCs with n values beyond the integers. The system response can transition between adjacent integer DTCs, during which the fractional DTCs are investigated. Study of higher-order and fractional DTCs expands fundamental knowledge of non-equilibrium dynamics and is promising for discovery of more complex temporal symmetries beyond the single discrete time translation symmetry.