Implementing topologically ordered time crystals on quantum processors
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
In a new study published in Nature Communications, scientists have implemented the topologically ordered time crystal on a quantum processor for the first time.
This marks a new era for quantum technology, since time crystals have been traditionally challenging to combine with topological order. However, achieving this combination adds stability and robustness to the system, a requirement for quantum computing applications.
Time crystals are a recent introduction to science, with the idea first proposed in 2012 by Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek. It is a quantum system that can naturally oscillate between states without the need for a continuous external energy source.
In simple terms, time crystals are a type of material in which the atoms are arranged periodically in time, rather than space, which is how ordinary crystals (like diamonds) are.
