Discrete time crystal in a finite chain of Rydberg atoms without disorder

Year: 2020

Authors: Fan CH., Rossini D., Zhang HX., Wu JH., Artoni M., La Rocca GC.

Autors Affiliation: Northeast Normal Univ, Sch Phys, Changchun 130024, Peoples R China; Univ Pisa, Dipartimento Fis, Largo Pontecorvo 3, I-56127 Pisa, Italy; Ist Nazl Fis Nucl, Largo Pontecorvo 3, I-56127 Pisa, Italy; Brescia Univ, CNR, Dept Engn & Informat Technol, I-25133 Brescia, Italy; Brescia Univ, CNR, Ist Nazl Ott, I-25133 Brescia, Italy; Scuola Normale Super Pisa, I-56126 Pisa, Italy; Consorzio Nazl Interuniv Sci Fis Mat, I-56126 Pisa, Italy.

Abstract: We study the collective dynamics of a clean Floquet system of cold atoms, numerically simulating two realistic setups based on a regular chain of interacting Rydberg atoms driven by laser fields. In both cases, the population evolution and its Fourier spectrum display clear signatures of a discrete time crystal (DTC), exhibiting the appearance of a robust subharmonic oscillation which persists on a timescale increasing with the chain size, within a certain range of control parameters. We also characterize how the DTC stability is affected by dissipative processes, typically present in this atomic system even though the Rydberg state is very long lived.

Journal/Review: PHYSICAL REVIEW A

Volume: 101 (1)      Pages from: 13417-1  to: 13417-12

More Information: The work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grants No. 11534002 and No. 11674049) as well as the Cooperative Program by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Grant No. PGR00960) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 11861131001).
KeyWords: Atom lasers; Atomic beams; Atoms; Collective dynamics; Control parameters; Dissipative process; Finite chains; Floquet systems; Fourier spectra; Population evolution; Subharmonic oscillations; Rydberg states
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevA.101.013417

Citations: 24
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