Page 1 of 1

Time Crystals

Posted: Tue Jan 31, 2017 10:49 pm
by Pigeon

Crystals are structures in which a pattern of atoms or molecules repeats in space. Now, two teams of researchers have figured out that crystals' repeating patterns can also exist through time. These "time crystals," detailed in a new paper in Physical Review Letter, are an entirely new kind of matter, one that can never reach equilibrium.

To create the time crystals, researchers at University of Maryland hooked together 10 ytterbium atoms and hit them with two lasers multiple times to keep them out of equilibrium. Though the atoms did settle into a pattern, they could not reach equilibrium, meaning that the crystals perpetually remain in motion, though they don't contain any energy. Almost all of physics is based in studying matter that is at equilibrium, so the ability to create these non-equilibrium crystals is a huge deal for the future of physics.

Popular Mechanics

Time Crystals at Physical Review Letters


Re: Time Crystals

Posted: Thu Feb 02, 2017 3:34 am
by Royal
If it's new matter, then why call it a Crystal?

Went through a few articles and they all cannot make apples and oranges of the experiment.

Re: Time Crystals

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2017 4:01 am
by Royal
It's like comparing heads to tails.

Re: Time Crystals

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2017 12:43 pm
by Pigeon
Maybe this will reveal some new and useful aspect of physical reality. Another form of a strange loop possibly.