Classical Time Crystals
Other Condensed Matter
2013-05-30 v2 General Relativity and Quantum Cosmology
High Energy Physics - Theory
Mathematical Physics
math.MP
Quantum Physics
Abstract
We consider the possibility that classical dynamical systems display motion in their lowest energy state, forming a time analogue of crystalline spatial order. Challenges facing that idea are identified and overcome. We display arbitrary orbits of an angular variable as lowest-energy trajectories for nonsingular Lagrangian systems. Dynamics within orbits of broken symmetry provide a natural arena for formation of time crystals. We exhibit models of that kind, including a model with traveling density waves.
Cite
@article{arxiv.1202.2537,
title = {Classical Time Crystals},
author = {Alfred Shapere and Frank Wilczek},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1202.2537},
year = {2013}
}
Comments
5 pages, 1 figure