Physicists at Washington University in St. Louis have achieved a remarkable scientific milestone: they’ve created a “time quasicrystal,” an entirely new phase of matter that reshapes our thoughts about time and motion. Their research, published in Physical Review X, explores an exciting frontier of quantum mechanics.
What’s a Time Crystal?
To understand time crystals, imagine regular crystals like diamonds or quartz. These are beautifully structured because their atoms repeat in precise, organized patterns in space.
On the other hand, doesn’t time crystal repeat patterns in space—it ticks in a consistent rhythm over time, combining the three dimensions of space with the fourth dimension: time.
Breaking New Ground: The Time Quasicrystal
Time crystals aren’t new—they were first created in 2016. But the WashU team took things further, building a “time quasicrystal.” Unlike regular time crystals, which tick with one predictable rhythm, time quasicrystals produce multiple frequencies, like playing a chord instead of a single note.
How They Did It?
The team grew their time quasicrystals inside diamonds. They used beams of nitrogen to knock out tiny carbon atoms, creating spaces where electrons could settle. These electron interactions formed the quasicrystal.
The whole structure is microscopic, far smaller than a grain of sand. The team used microwave pulses to start its rhythmic ticking, which organized the vibrations in time.
Why It Matters?
Beyond proving key quantum theories, time quasicrystals might have practical uses. They could improve precision timekeeping, replacing quartz oscillators in electronics with something more consistent and energy-efficient.
They might even power next-gen quantum sensors or computers.
Chong Zu, an assistant professor of physics, said, “Because time crystals can theoretically tick forever without losing energy, there’s a lot of interest in harnessing their power for quantum computers. They could store quantum memory over long periods of time, essentially like a quantum analog of RAM. We’re far from that sort of technology, but creating a time quasicrystal is a crucial first step.”
Journal Reference:
- Guanghui He, Ruotian Gong, Changyu Yao, Zhongyuan Liu, Kater W. Murch, Norman Y. Yao, and Chong Zu. Experimental Realization of Discrete Time Quasicrystals. Physical Review X. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevX.15.011055
Source: Tech Explorist
