Emergence of Time Semicrystals in Holographic Driven-Dissipative Systems
Yu-Qi Lei, Xian-Hui Ge, Yu Tian, Shao-Feng Wu
TLDR
This paper introduces time semicrystals in holographic systems, a new phase bridging discrete time crystals and disordered regimes.
Key contributions
- Identifies a new 'time semicrystal' phase in periodically driven holographic systems.
- This phase maintains temporal order amidst disorder, bridging ordered and fully disordered regimes.
- Exhibits a periodic skeleton with discrete subharmonic peaks on a continuous spectrum.
- Reveals critical scaling behavior and discrete scale invariance across phase transitions.
Why it matters
This research significantly expands our understanding of nonequilibrium phases of matter by introducing time semicrystals. It provides a novel holographic platform to study how temporal order degrades in quantum systems, revealing new critical phenomena.
Original Abstract
Understanding how temporal order degrades in quantum systems remains a central issue in nonequilibrium physics. Here we study the melting of discrete time crystals in a periodically driven holographic system, where a distinct (discrete) time semicrystal phase emerges with persistent temporal order in disorder, bridging discrete time crystals and fully disordered regimes. This phase exhibits a periodic skeleton, with discrete subharmonic peaks persisting atop a continuous spectrum. We extract a critical scaling behavior across the discrete time crystal to time semicrystal transition. Furthermore, even dynamical transitions between distinct periodic skeletons can be clearly identified with systematic log-periodic corrections to power-law scaling, revealing discrete scale invariance. These findings in holography significantly enrich the platforms for studying nonequilibrium phases of matter.
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