Classical Time Crystals
Author(s)
Shapere, Alfred; Wilczek, Frank
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We consider the possibility that classical dynamical systems display motion in their lowest-energy state, forming a time analogue of crystalline spatial order. Challenges facing that idea are identified and overcome. We display arbitrary orbits of an angular variable as lowest-energy trajectories for nonsingular Lagrangian systems. Dynamics within orbits of broken symmetry provide a natural arena for formation of time crystals. We exhibit models of that kind, including a model with traveling density waves.
Date issued
2012-10Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Center for Theoretical Physics; Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of PhysicsJournal
Physical Review Letters
Publisher
American Physical Society
Citation
Shapere, Alfred, and Frank Wilczek. “Classical Time Crystals.” Physical Review Letters 109.16 (2012). © 2012 American Physical Society
Version: Final published version
ISSN
0031-9007
1079-7114