A Qutrit Time Crystal Stabilized with Native Chiral Interactions

TL;DR

This paper reports the experimental realization of a $$ discrete time crystal using a chain of 15 superconducting qutrits, demonstrating robust subharmonic period tripling stabilized by native chiral interactions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel $$ time crystal in a superconducting qutrit system with tunable chiral interactions, expanding the understanding of non-equilibrium phases in higher discrete symmetries.

Findings

Robust subharmonic period tripling observed across various drive strengths.

Chirality stabilizes time-crystalline order and reduces initial state dependence.

Absence of chirality leads to state-dependent dynamics governed by domain wall degeneracies.

Abstract

Periodically driven quantum many-body systems can spontaneously break discrete time-translation symmetry, realizing discrete time crystals. To date, both experimental and theoretical efforts have largely focused on the simplest case of spontaneous period-doubling in $\mathbb{Z}_2$ discrete time crystals realized with qubits. This owes, in part, to the challenge of stabilizing eigenstate order in higher discrete symmetry ($\mathbb{Z}_n$) time crystals, due to the presence of richer domain wall physics. Here, we demonstrate the realization of a $\mathbb{Z}_3$ discrete time crystal by implementing a Floquet chiral clock model in a chain of 15 superconducting qutrits. Unlike the conventional Ising setting, our system features a tunable chiral angle that governs domain-wall dynamics, spectral degeneracies, and crucially, the stability of time-crystalline order. Using disordered nearest-neighbor chiral interactions, we observe robust subharmonic period tripling that persists across a wide range of drive strengths and is independent of initial state. Finally, we highlight the special role that chirality plays in our $\mathbb{Z}_3$ discrete time crystal -- in its absence, the system's Floquet dynamics exhibit a marked initial state dependence governed by domain wall degeneracies. Our results establish native qudit hardware as a powerful platform to access a broader landscape of non-equilibrium phases.