Realization of Two-dimensional Discrete Time Crystals with Anisotropic Heisenberg Coupling

Fuente: arXiv
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Autori principali: Switzer, Eric D., Robertson, Niall, Keenan, Nathan, Rodríguez, Ángel, D'Urbano, Andrea, Pokharel, Bibek, Rahman, Talat S., Shtanko, Oles, Zhuk, Sergiy, Lorente, Nicolás
Natura: Preprint
Pubblicazione: 2025
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author Switzer, Eric D.
Robertson, Niall
Keenan, Nathan
Rodríguez, Ángel
D'Urbano, Andrea
Pokharel, Bibek
Rahman, Talat S.
Shtanko, Oles
Zhuk, Sergiy
Lorente, Nicolás
author_facet Switzer, Eric D.
Robertson, Niall
Keenan, Nathan
Rodríguez, Ángel
D'Urbano, Andrea
Pokharel, Bibek
Rahman, Talat S.
Shtanko, Oles
Zhuk, Sergiy
Lorente, Nicolás
contents A discrete time crystal (DTC) is the paradigmatic example of a phase of matter that occurs exclusively in systems out of equilibrium. This phenomenon is characterized by the spontaneous symmetry breaking of discrete time-translation and provides a rich playground to study a fundamental question in statistical physics: what mechanism allows for driven quantum systems to exhibit emergent behavior that deviates from their counterparts with time-independent evolution? Unlike equilibrium phases, DTCs exhibit macroscopic manifestations of coherent quantum dynamics, challenging the conventional narrative that thermodynamic behavior universally erases quantum signatures. However, due to the difficulty of simulating these systems with either classical or quantum computers, previous studies have been limited to a set of models with Ising-like couplings -- and mostly only in one dimension -- thus precluding our understanding of the existence (or not) of DTCs in models with interactions that closely align with what occurs in nature. In this work, by combining the latest generation of IBM quantum processors with state-of-the-art tensor network methods, we are able to demonstrate the existence of a DTC in a two-dimensional system governed by anisotropic Heisenberg interactions. Our comprehensive analysis reveals a rich phase diagram encompassing spin-glass, ergodic, and time-crystalline phases, highlighting the tunability of these phases through multiple control parameters. Crucially, our results emphasize the interplay of initialization, interaction anisotropy, and driving protocols in stabilizing the DTC phase. By extending the study of Floquet matter beyond simplified models, we lay the groundwork for exploring how driven systems bridge the gap between quantum coherence and emergent non-equilibrium thermodynamics.
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publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Realization of Two-dimensional Discrete Time Crystals with Anisotropic Heisenberg Coupling
Switzer, Eric D.
Robertson, Niall
Keenan, Nathan
Rodríguez, Ángel
D'Urbano, Andrea
Pokharel, Bibek
Rahman, Talat S.
Shtanko, Oles
Zhuk, Sergiy
Lorente, Nicolás
Quantum Physics
A discrete time crystal (DTC) is the paradigmatic example of a phase of matter that occurs exclusively in systems out of equilibrium. This phenomenon is characterized by the spontaneous symmetry breaking of discrete time-translation and provides a rich playground to study a fundamental question in statistical physics: what mechanism allows for driven quantum systems to exhibit emergent behavior that deviates from their counterparts with time-independent evolution? Unlike equilibrium phases, DTCs exhibit macroscopic manifestations of coherent quantum dynamics, challenging the conventional narrative that thermodynamic behavior universally erases quantum signatures. However, due to the difficulty of simulating these systems with either classical or quantum computers, previous studies have been limited to a set of models with Ising-like couplings -- and mostly only in one dimension -- thus precluding our understanding of the existence (or not) of DTCs in models with interactions that closely align with what occurs in nature. In this work, by combining the latest generation of IBM quantum processors with state-of-the-art tensor network methods, we are able to demonstrate the existence of a DTC in a two-dimensional system governed by anisotropic Heisenberg interactions. Our comprehensive analysis reveals a rich phase diagram encompassing spin-glass, ergodic, and time-crystalline phases, highlighting the tunability of these phases through multiple control parameters. Crucially, our results emphasize the interplay of initialization, interaction anisotropy, and driving protocols in stabilizing the DTC phase. By extending the study of Floquet matter beyond simplified models, we lay the groundwork for exploring how driven systems bridge the gap between quantum coherence and emergent non-equilibrium thermodynamics.
title Realization of Two-dimensional Discrete Time Crystals with Anisotropic Heisenberg Coupling
topic Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.18036