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arXiv · 2406.08581

Programmable time crystals from higher-order packing fields

R. Hurtado-Gutiérrez·C. Pérez-Espigares·P. I. Hurtado
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Abstract

Time crystals are many-body systems that spontaneously break time-translation symmetry, and thus exhibit long-range spatiotemporal order and robust periodic motion. Recent results have demonstrated how to build time-crystal phases in driven diffusive fluids using an external packing field coupled to density fluctuations. Here we exploit this mechanism to engineer and control on-demand custom continuous time crystals characterized by an arbitrary number of rotating condensates, which can be further enhanced with higher-order modes. We elucidate the underlying critical point, as well as general properties of the condensates density profiles and velocities, demonstrating a scaling property of higher-order traveling condensates in terms of first-order ones. We illustrate our findings by solving the hydrodynamic equations for various paradigmatic driven diffusive systems, obtaining along the way a number of remarkable results, e.g. the possibility of explosive time crystal phases characterized by an abrupt, first-order-type transition. Overall, these results demonstrate the versatility and broad possibilities of this promising route to time crystals.

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BibTeXRIS

R. Hurtado-Gutiérrez, C. Pérez-Espigares, P. I. Hurtado. 2024-06-12. Programmable time crystals from higher-order packing fields. https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.111.034119

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