Boundary time crystals
Quantum Physics
2018-07-23 v2 Other Condensed Matter
Statistical Mechanics
Abstract
In this work we introduce {\it boundary time-crystals}. Here {\it continuous} time-translation symmetry breaking occurs only in a macroscopic fraction of a many-body quantum system. After introducing their definition and properties, we analyse in detail a solvable model where an accurate scaling analysis can be performed. The existence of the boundary time crystals is intimately connected to the emergence of a time-periodic steady state in the thermodynamic limit of a many-body open quantum system. We also discuss connections to quantum synchronisation.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1708.05014,
title = {Boundary time crystals},
author = {F. Iemini and A. Russomanno and J. Keeling and M. Schirò and M. Dalmonte and R. Fazio},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1708.05014},
year = {2018}
}
Comments
6 + 9 pages, 4 + 7 figures