Discrete Time Crystals in the spin-s Central Spin Model

TL;DR

This paper introduces protocols to realize and analyze discrete time crystals in a spin-s central spin model, revealing parameter regimes for stable DTCs, their entanglement properties, and applications in quantum sensing.

Contribution

It presents new driving protocols for DTCs in a central spin model and explores their stability, entanglement features, and potential for quantum-enhanced sensing.

Findings

Existence of eternal period-doubling and higher-order DTCs in finite systems

Certain HO-DTCs generate maximally entangled Bell and super-cat states

HO-DTCs enable quantum-enhanced multiparameter sensing at the Heisenberg limit

Abstract

We propose periodic driving protocols to realize discrete time crystals (DTCs) in a spin-s central spin model. Interestingly, we identify parameter regimes, where eternal period-doubling and higher-order(HO)-DTCs can be realized, even for finite-sized systems. We have determined the dependence of the DTC order on the number of satellite spins and the central spin value, s. Intriguingly, we find that certain classes of HO-DTCs produce a series of maximally entangled Bell cat and super-cat states during their dynamical evolution. Finally, we demonstrate that the HO-DTCs can be employed for quantum-enhanced multiparameter sensing at the Heisenberg limit.