The concept of crystals as an arrangement of atoms that repeats itself in space is well-known in the world of physics. However, in 2012, Nobel Prize winner Frank Wilczek introduced the idea of time crystals – objects that repeat themselves not in space but in time. The question he raised was whether a periodic rhythm could emerge without a specific rhythm being imposed on the system, and completely independent of time. This notion sparked significant controversy in the scientific community, with some dismissing time crystals as impossible, while others attempted to find ways to realize them under specific conditions.
Recently, a groundbreaking experiment was conducted at Tsinghua University in China with the collaboration of TU Wien in Austria. The team successfully created a unique kind of time crystal using laser light and Rydberg atoms. These special atoms have a diameter several hundred times larger than regular atoms. The results of this experiment were published in the prestigious journal Nature Physics.
In a time crystal, the periodicity is expected to arise spontaneously, with no physical distinction between different points in time. This phenomenon is known as spontaneous symmetry breaking. Professor Thomas Pohl from TU Wien, who led the theoretical aspect of the research, explains that the tick frequency of a time crystal is predetermined by the physical properties of the system, while the timing of the ticks occurs randomly.
In the experiment, laser light was directed into a glass container filled with a gas of rubidium atoms. The researchers measured the strength of the light signal at the other end of the container. Despite the experiment being static with no specific rhythm imposed on the system, the intensity of the light signal began to oscillate in highly regular patterns. This unexpected behavior was a crucial step towards the creation of a time crystal.
The key to the experiment’s success was the preparation of the atoms in a special way. By creating Rydberg atoms, where the electrons orbit the nucleus on different paths depending on their energy levels, the researchers were able to induce spontaneous oscillations between two atomic states. The giant atoms interacted in such a way that they produced a feedback loop, resulting in oscillating light absorption.
The creation of a time crystal opens up new possibilities in the field of physics. It provides a powerful platform for further exploration of this phenomenon and brings us closer to understanding Frank Wilczek’s original idea. The precise and self-sustained oscillations observed in the experiment could have practical applications, such as the development of sensors.
Overall, the successful creation of a time crystal marks a significant advancement in the realm of physics. It challenges our existing understanding of time and opens up new avenues for research and innovation. The implications of this breakthrough experiment are far-reaching and could pave the way for further discoveries in the future.
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