Scientists have discovered a new state of matter called "time crystals" which is considered to be a quantum event that shows movement while being stationary or in its lowest state of energy.

Regular crystals such as diamonds can repeat atomic structure in space in the form of lattices but time crystals can repeat these lattices through time.

Like Us on Facebook

The time crystal was first proposed by Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek back in 2012 in theory, which can ultimately question the fundamental laws of physics. Last October, a team from the University of California, Santa Barbara was able to create a "floquet time crystal".

In two new published studies, separate teams from Harvard University and the University of Maryland are now claiming to have successfully created real time crystals. Both of the teams have utilized a time crystal "blueprint" based on the creation of physicist Norman Yao from the University of California, Berkeley. Yao was able to create time crystals and obtain measurements of its properties. There are also different phases expected that can occur in a time crystal that are similar to ice turning into liquid or gas.

According to lead author of the study, Chris Monroe of the University of Maryland, they were able to create a new time crystal using 10 ytterbium ions that can interact with electron spins, which is also similar how qubits operate in quantum computers.

In order to maintain this movement, the team used a laser to strike the lined up ytterbium ions in an alternate manner to produce a magnetic field. A second laser will hit these spinning atoms partially. This type of sequence is repetitively carried out to keep the ions out of equilibrium. When the spins interact with each other, it creates a stable pattern of spinning and flipping that creates a new crystal.

According to lead author of the study, Mikhail Lukin from Harvard University, their time crystal was created by using densely packed nitrogen vacancy centers that can be observed in diamonds.

Researchers and scientists say that there were similar results produced in two different systems to create time crystals as a new state of matter. Further observations of these new time crystals confirm how symmetry breaking can occur in all natural realms and can branch out to several new ways of research.

To date, scientists are not yet sure what are the practical applications for time crystals but researchers confirm that it is a new state of non equilibrium matter. Yao adds that apart from being a new state of matter, such as crystals and insulators, these new findings open up entirely new ways to explore the landscape of non-equilibrium matter. These two new studies are published in the journal Physical Review Letters.