Discrete time-crystalline order in black diamond: realization and probe of quantum many-body dynamics

 · Invited

Abstract

Strongly interacting solid-state spin ensembles provide a promising platform to explore quantum many-body physics. In particular, Nitrogen-Vacancy (NV) centers in diamond are appealing as they exhibit excellent spin properties even at room temperature. In this talk, I will present how a high-density NV ensemble can be used to investigate out-of-equilibrium quantum many-body phenomena. In particular, I will discuss the recent experimental observation of discrete time-crystalline (DTC) order: a nonequilibrium order characterized by a spontaneous breaking of time-translational symmetry and manifested in robust, long-lived subharmonic responses of a periodically driven system [1]. By engineering different types of effective interactions, we find that the spin ensemble can exhibit a long-lived robust subharmonic response over a wide range of parameters. Additional systematic investigation of the lifetime of the DTC response reveals three different regimes of relaxation dynamics, that can be continuously varied from disorder-induced slow thermalization, to driving assisted relaxation, and ultimately to universal Markovian dynamics [2]. These results highlight the utility of high-density NV ensembles as a probe of many-body dynamics and thermalization, an important aspect in the quest for the understanding and control of quantum matter, and may enable novel applications in quantum simulation and metrology with strongly correlated quantum matter [3].

[1] S. Choi et al, Nature 543, 221–225 (2017)
[2] J. Choi et al, arXiv:1806.10169 (2018)
[3] S. Choi et al, arXiv:1801.00042 (2018)

*CUA, NSSEFF, ARO MURI, Moore Foundation, Harvard Society of Fellows, Princeton Center for Theoretical Science, Miller Institute for Basic Research in Science, Samsung Fellowship, NSF PHY-1506284, NSF DMR-1308435, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI (No. 26246001), LDRD Program of LBNL, EU (FP7, Horizons 2020, ERC), DFG, SNF, and BMBF.

–

Presenters

  • Soonwon Choi

    • University of California, Berkeley
    • UC Berkeley
    • Physics, University of California Berkeley
    • University of California Berkeley
    • Harvard University
    • Physics, University of California, Berkeley

Authors

  • Soonwon Choi

    • University of California, Berkeley
    • UC Berkeley
    • Physics, University of California Berkeley
    • University of California Berkeley
    • Harvard University
    • Physics, University of California, Berkeley

  • Joonhee Choi

    • Harvard University

  • Hengyun Zhou

    • Physics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    • Harvard University
    • Department of Physics, Harvard University

  • Wen Wei Ho

    • Harvard University
    • Harvard
    • Physics, Harvard University

  • Renate Landig

    • Harvard University

  • Georg Kucsko

    • Harvard University

  • Junichi Isoya

    • University of Tsukuba
    • Research Center for Knowledge Communities, University of Tsukuba, 1-2 Kasuga, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8550, Japan.

  • Fedor Jelezko

    • Ulm University

  • Shinobu Onoda

    • Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute
    • Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Takasaki, Gunma 370-1292, Japan

  • Hitoshi Sumiya

    • Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
    • Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.

  • Curt W Von Keyserlingk

    • University of Birmingham
    • School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Birmingham

  • Vedika Khemani

    • Harvard University
    • Physics, Harvard University

  • Norman Yao

    • University of California, Berkeley
    • Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
    • Physics, University of California, Berkeley
    • Department of Physics, University of California, Berkeley
    • University of California, Berkeley and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Materials Sciences Division

  • Eugene Demler

    • Harvard University
    • Department of Physics, Harvard University
    • Physics, Harvard University

  • Dmitry Abanin

    • University of Geneva
    • Physics, University of Geneva

  • Mikhail Lukin

    • Harvard University
    • Physics, Harvard University