English

Photo-induced Superconductivity = Discrete Time Crystal?

Superconductivity 2022-09-14 v1 Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics Quantum Gases Statistical Mechanics Strongly Correlated Electrons

Abstract

We propose that periodic driving can stabilize a new type of order, "period-doubled superconductivity", in which a superconducting order parameter oscillates at half the frequency of the drive. Despite having a zero time-averaged order parameter, the ordered state exhibits perfect conductivity and a Meissner effect. Our theory predicts that this phase may be realized as the steady state of materials shown to exhibit photo-induced superconductivity. We propose to detect the period-doubled oscillation of the order parameter by utilizing a Josephson junction between a photo-induced superconductor and a conventional superconductor. Our theory can also be realized via parametric driving of cold bosonic atoms in an optical lattice.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2209.05510,
  title  = {Photo-induced Superconductivity = Discrete Time Crystal?},
  author = {Zhehao Dai and Vibhu Ravindran and Norman Y. Yao and Michael P. Zaletel},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2209.05510},
  year   = {2022}
}

Comments

8 + 2 pages, 4 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-28T01:09:31.125Z