Observation of multiple time crystals in a driven-dissipative system with Rydberg gas

Yuechun Jiao, Weilun Jiang, Yu Zhang, Jingxu Bai, Yunhui He, Heng Shen (), Jianming Zhao () and Suotang Jia
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Yuechun Jiao: Shanxi University
Weilun Jiang: Shanxi University
Yu Zhang: Shanxi University
Jingxu Bai: Shanxi University
Yunhui He: Shanxi University
Heng Shen: Shanxi University
Jianming Zhao: Shanxi University
Suotang Jia: Shanxi University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Time crystals, as temporal analogs of space crystals, manifest as stable and periodic behavior that breaks time translation symmetry. In an open quantum system, many-body interaction subjected to dissipation allows one to develop the time crystalline order in an unprecedented way, as refer to dissipative time crystals. Here we report the observation of multiple time crystals in the continuously driven-dissipative and strongly interacting Rydberg thermal gases, in which continuous time crystals, sub-harmonic time crystals and high-harmonic time crystals are observed in the same system by manipulating the Rydberg excitation. Our work provides new ways to explore the non-equilibrium phases of matter in open systems. Such time crystals with persistent oscillation rooted in emergent quantum correlations, may emerge as a ubiquitous tool in quantum metrology, for instance, continuous sensing and parameter estimation surpassing the standard quantum limit.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-64488-7

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