Probing quantum thermalization of a disordered dipolar spin ensemble with discrete time-crystalline order

TL;DR

This study explores how a driven disordered dipolar spin system in diamond exhibits different thermalization regimes, using discrete time crystalline order as a probe, revealing the effects of interactions, disorder, and driving period on thermalization.

Contribution

It provides experimental insights into the thermalization dynamics of a driven dipolar quantum system and distinguishes between regimes influenced by interaction details and universal thermalization behavior.

Findings

Short driving periods are described by an effective Hamiltonian sensitive to interactions.

Long driving periods lead to universal thermalizing behavior via energy exchange with the drive.

Differences in thermalization are observed between long-range Ising and other dipolar spin models.

Abstract

We investigate thermalization dynamics of a driven dipolar many-body quantum system through the stability of discrete time crystalline order. Using periodic driving of electronic spin impurities in diamond, we realize different types of interactions between spins and demonstrate experimentally that the interplay of disorder, driving and interactions leads to several qualitatively distinct regimes of thermalization. For short driving periods, the observed dynamics are well described by an effective Hamiltonian which sensitively depends on interaction details. For long driving periods, the system becomes susceptible to energy exchange with the driving field and eventually enters a universal thermalizing regime, where the dynamics can be described by interaction-induced dephasing of individual spins. Our analysis reveals important differences between thermalization of long-range Ising and other dipolar spin models.