Defining time crystals via representation theory

Vedika Khemani, C. W. Von Keyserlingk, Shivaji Lal Sondhi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Scopus citations

Abstract

Time crystals are proposed states of matter which spontaneously break time translation symmetry. There is no settled definition of such states. We offer a new definition which follows the traditional recipe for Wigner symmetries and order parameters. Supplementing our definition with a few plausible assumptions we find that a) systems with time-independent Hamiltonians should not exhibit time translation symmetry breaking while b) the recently studied π spin glass/Floquet time crystal can be viewed as breaking a global internal symmetry and as breaking time translation symmetry, as befits its two names.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number115127
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume96
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 18 2017

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Defining time crystals via representation theory'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this