Emergence of Time Semicrystals in Holographic Driven-Dissipative Systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates the emergence and transition of time semicrystals in a holographic driven-dissipative quantum system, revealing critical scaling and discrete scale invariance.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of time semicrystals in holography and analyzes their critical behavior and dynamical transitions with novel scaling properties.

Findings

Discrete time semicrystal phase exhibits persistent temporal order in disorder.

Critical scaling behavior is extracted across the phase transition.

Log-periodic corrections reveal discrete scale invariance during dynamical transitions.

Abstract

Understanding how temporal order degrades in quantum systems remains a central issue in nonequilibrium physics. Here we study the melting of discrete time crystals in a periodically driven holographic system, where a distinct (discrete) time semicrystal phase emerges with persistent temporal order in disorder, bridging discrete time crystals and fully disordered regimes. This phase exhibits a periodic skeleton, with discrete subharmonic peaks persisting atop a continuous spectrum. We extract a critical scaling behavior across the discrete time crystal to time semicrystal transition. Furthermore, even dynamical transitions between distinct periodic skeletons can be clearly identified with systematic log-periodic corrections to power-law scaling, revealing discrete scale invariance. These findings in holography significantly enrich the platforms for studying nonequilibrium phases of matter.