In 2018, researchers at the University of Sussex in the UK announced the creation of a “time crystal,” a new form of matter that exhibits periodic patterns in time rather than space. The discovery was seen as a major breakthrough and could have significant implications for the study of quantum physics.
A time crystal is a new form of matter that exhibits periodic patterns in time rather than space. In other words, while most crystals are characterised by a repeating pattern of atoms in space, a time crystal exhibits a repeating pattern of movement over time. This behaviour was predicted to be theoretically possible in 2012 by Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek, but it was not until 2018 that a team of researchers at the University of Sussex were able to create a time crystal in the laboratory.
To create the time crystal, the researchers used a small crystal of the element ytterbium, which has a complex electronic structure. They placed the crystal in a resonant cavity and applied a series of laser pulses, causing the electrons in the crystal to oscillate in a repeating pattern over time. This repeating pattern, or “temporal order,” is what defines the time crystal.
The discovery of time crystals could have significant implications for the study of quantum physics, as it suggests the existence of a new type of matter that exhibits unique properties. It could also potentially have practical applications, such as in the development of ultra-precise clocks or quantum computers.
