Scientists have successfully created a time crystal at room temperature, which is a significant breakthrough in this field. Time crystals usually require extremely low temperatures and complex equipment to form.
This new approach uses rubidium atoms that are “inflated” by exciting their electrons. This process creates a stable system where the atoms behave in a synchronized way, resulting in a time crystal. The advantage of this method is that it can last longer and be more durable than previous attempts, which required cooling the atoms to near absolute zero.
The team behind this research used Rydberg atoms to create their time crystal. These atoms are excited until their electrons fly out into energy levels further from the nucleus, making them stable at room temperature. This approach minimizes interactions between the atoms and allows for higher-level manipulation.
Time crystals are still a relatively new concept, having been discovered just 12 years ago. They may not exist naturally in the universe. The team’s discovery could lead to better quantum computers and other applications.
In their experiment, the scientists observed that the Rydberg atoms developed a rhythmic motion, which is the signature behavior of time crystals. They were able to control the setup to ensure that the Rydberg excitation was causing the time crystal behavior. The team also explored different types of Rydberg states and their corresponding time crystal motions.
This breakthrough could lead to longer-lasting time crystal states, opening up new possibilities in quantum research.+
+Source: https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a61645298/scientists-created-room-temperature-time-crystals/