Time Crystals in the World of Quantum Computing

A new phase of matter built by physicists and researchers

Photo by Michael Dziedzic on Unsplash

First proposed theoretically by Frank Wilczek in 2012, he devised the idea while teaching a course about crystalline symmetry thinking about higher dimensional crystals adding time as a physical dimension to width, length, and height. Ordinary crystals are repetitive and symmetrical in space, whereas time crystals are repetitive and symmetrical in time.

A time crystal is a new phase of matter repeating in time infinitely without any energy input. Its particles constantly reorganize into various configurations and then return to their initial state breaking time translation symmetry. Time translation symmetry is a law that states that the laws of physics behave the same regardless of time.

Now that we are familiar with time crystals, let’s study a little more about quantum computers. Quantum computers use quantum bits “qubits”, which can simultaneously store data as a 1 and 0 in place of the transistors that classical computers use to process information which can only be represented as a 1 or 0 at a single time.

To build a time crystal within Google’s quantum computer, scientists from Stanford and Princeton collaborated with Google researchers. To closely interact and sustain each other in their designated orientation, 20 quantum bits — each of which indicated either an up or down spin were arranged in a row. The researchers sent in pulsed coherent microwave light, and the spins oscillated back and forth without the system absorbing or releasing any energy.

For a theory in the science field to be tested, researched, and confirmed in a decade is astonishing. Perhaps, there could be more to come in the near future.

References:

1. Wolchover, Natalie. “Eternal Change for No Energy: A Time Crystal Finally Made Real.” Quanta Magazine, 17 Dec. 2021, https://www.quantamagazine.org/first-time-crystal-built-using-googles-quantum-computer-20210730/#newsletter.
2. Choi, Charles Q. “What’s a Time Crystal?” IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 3 Feb. 2022, https://spectrum.ieee.org/qa-creating-time-crystals-using-quantum-computers.
3. “Google Made a Time Crystal That Defies Physics.” TechPlanet, TechPlanet, 8 July 2022, https://techplanet.today/post/google-made-a-time-crystal-that-defies-physics.
4. “BREAKING: New Phase of Matter.” YouTube, Physics Girl, 15 June 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieDIpgso4no.