You probably know what a crystal is.
But what on earth is a time crystal, if not a sci-fi gadget in the latest Marvel movie?
Why do we need a quantum computer to make one?
And what is aquantum computer anyway?
Bits and qubits
Lets start there.
Computers are all around us.
Regardless of the details, on a fundamental level computers, all have the same purpose: processing information.
The information is stored and processed in bits.
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This allows for a much richer form of information processing, and hence more powerful computers.
What can we do with quantum computers?
As theorists, we typically use a combination of pen-and-paper mathematics and computer simulations to study physical systems.
Unfortunately, conventional computers are very ill-equipped for simulating quantum physics.
This is where quantum computers come in.
This machine is located in America but can be accessed remotely by researchers around the globe.
Time crystals
The special key in of quantum system we created is calleda time crystal.
But maybe we can at least understand what a time crystal is!
A material can have very different properties depending on which phase we find it in.
Now a conventional crystal we might actually call it a space crystal is one such phase of matter.
Crystals are characterized by a very regular arrangement of particles in space.
In a time crystal, particles are not only arranged regularly in space, but also intime.
The particles move from one position to another and back again, without slowing down or losing energy.
Now, this is truly different from what we usually deal with.
These are examples of equilibrium.
The common theme is that things in equilibrium do not change over time.
Our time crystal violates this condition.
It actually keeps changing indefinitely, for all eternity, without ever reaching equilibrium.
A loophole in the laws of thermodynamics?
This seems dangerously close to a perpetual motion machine, which would violate the laws of thermodynamics.
The second law states that things left to themselves can only become more disordered over time.
This concept is probably all too familiar to anyone with kids or housemates.
But there is a loophole.
In everyday life, we dont see this loophole in action.
This is what time crystals do.
We dont see it in everyday life because it really is a quantum phenomenon.
Beyond time crystals
Quantum computers are still in their infancy.
But as they improve they will allow physicists like us to improve our fundamental understanding of nature.
Time crystals just mark the beginning of this exciting endeavor.
