Discrete time crystal in globally driven interacting quantum systems without disorder

TL;DR

This paper proposes a simple, disorder-free scheme to realize discrete time crystals in a one-dimensional driven quantum Ising system, using only periodic global magnetic field kicks, suitable for current experimental platforms.

Contribution

It introduces a minimal, disorder-free setup for observing discrete time crystal behavior in short-range interacting quantum systems.

Findings

Time crystal behavior observed without disorder or Hamiltonian quenching.

Analytic and numerical analysis confirms stability of the time crystal phase.

Feasible implementation with current quantum simulation platforms.

Abstract

Time crystals in periodically driven systems have initially been studied assuming either the ability to quench the Hamiltonian between different many-body regimes, the presence of disorder or long-range interactions. Here we propose the simplest scheme to observe discrete time crystal dynamics in a one-dimensional driven quantum system of the Ising type with short-range interactions and no disorder. The system is subject only to a periodic kick by a global magnetic field, and no extra Hamiltonian quenching is performed. We analyze the emerging time crystal stabilizing mechanisms via extensive numerics as well as using an analytic approach based on an off-resonant transition model. Due to the simplicity of the driven Ising model, our proposal can be implemented with current experimental platforms including trapped ions, Rydberg atoms, and superconducting circuits.