2019/05/07 by Hans Keßler, Jayson G. Cosme, Michal Hemmerling +3 · 103 citations
Computer Science · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics #Atom optics #Atomic clock #Condensed matter physics #Laser #Limit cycle #Nonlinear Dynamics and Pattern Formation #Optical cavity #Phase (matter) #Phase diagram #Physics #Quantum #Quantum fluctuation #Quantum mechanics #Quantum optics #Semiclassical physics #Strong Light-Matter Interactions #Symmetry breaking #Translational symmetry #cond-mat.quant-gas #quant-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physreva.99.053605
published in Physical Review A 99(5) (American Physical Society) · 6 pages, 6 figures
arxiv created 2019/05/07 · openalex publication_date 2019/05/09 · arxiv updated 2019/05/10 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We propose an experimental realization of a time crystal using an atomic Bose-Einstein condensate in a high finesse optical cavity pumped with laser light detuned to the blue side of the relevant atomic resonance. By mapping out the dynamical phase diagram, we identify regions in parameter space showing stable limit cycle dynamics. Since the model describing the system is time independent, the emergence of a limit cycle phase indicates the breaking of continuous time translation symmetry. Employing a semiclassical analysis to demonstrate the robustness of the limit cycles against perturbations and quantum fluctuations, we establish the emergence of a time crystal.