Observation of a Dissipative Time Crystal

Phys Rev Lett. 2021 Jul 23;127(4):043602. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.127.043602.

Abstract

We present the first experimental realization of a time crystal stabilized by dissipation. The central signature in our implementation in a driven open atom-cavity system is a period doubled switching between distinct checkerboard density wave patterns, induced by the interplay between controlled cavity dissipation, cavity-mediated interactions, and external driving. We demonstrate the robustness of this dynamical phase against system parameter changes and temporal perturbations of the driving.