Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2025

Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets
Published on: May 15, 2017
Observation of a phase transition from a continuous to a discrete time crystal
Phatthamon Kongkhambut1, Jayson G Cosme2, Jim Skulte1,3
1Zentrum für Optische Quantentechnologien and Institut für Quantenphysik, Universität Hamburg, 22761 Hamburg, Germany.
Abstract:
Discrete (DTCs) and continuous time crystals (CTCs) are novel dynamical many-body states, that are characterized by robust self-sustained oscillations, emerging via spontaneous breaking of discrete or continuous time translation symmetry. DTCs are periodically driven systems that oscillate with a subharmonic of the external drive, while CTCs are continuously driven and oscillate with a frequency intrinsic to the system. Here, we explore a phase transition from a continuous time crystal to a discrete time crystal. A CTC with a characteristic oscillation frequencyωCTCis prepared in a continuously pumped atom-cavity system. Modulating the pump intensity of the CTC with a frequencyωdrclose to2ωCTCleads to robust locking ofωCTCtoωdr/2, and hence a DTC arises. This phase transition in a quantum many-body system is related to subharmonic injection locking of non-linear mechanical and electronic oscillators or lasers.
Related Concept Videos
Phase Changes
A substance melts or freezes at a temperature called its melting point and boils or condenses at its boiling point. These temperatures depend on pressure. High pressure favors the denser form of the substance, so typically, high pressure...
Sampling Continuous Time Signal
In the...
Time and frequency -Domain Interpretation of Phase-lead Control
The design of phase-lead control involves the strategic placement of poles and zeros to balance steady-state error and system...
Phase Transitions: Sublimation and Deposition
Crystal Growth: Principles of Crystallization
Initiating crystallization involves manipulating the concentration of the solute and the temperature of the solution. Since crystal growth occurs when the ratio of concentration and solubility of the solute in the solvent...
BIBO stability of continuous and discrete -time systems
To determine the BIBO stability, the convolution integral is utilized when a bounded continuous-time input is applied to a Linear Time-Invariant (LTI) system....

