Time crystals could power next-generation ultra-precise quantum clocks

A recent theoretical study proposes that time crystals—an unusual state of matter characterized by a repeating pattern in time rather than space—could enable quantum clocks with greater precision than current laser-driven atomic clocks. Unlike conventional atomic clocks, which rely on complex, energy-intensive systems involving lasers to excite atoms and measure their stable optical frequencies, time crystals generate a self-sustaining internal rhythm without continuous external energy input. This intrinsic oscillation arises from spontaneous breaking of time-translation symmetry, potentially offering a simpler and more stable timekeeping mechanism, especially for measuring extremely short time intervals. The researchers modeled a system of 100 quantum particles with two possible spin states and compared two operational phases: a conventional externally driven phase and a time-crystalline phase with self-generated oscillations. Their analysis showed that while the precision of the conventional phase rapidly deteriorated at finer time resolutions, the time-crystalline phase maintained significantly higher robustness and accuracy. This suggests that time crystals could outperform existing quantum clock designs by providing a steadier reference signal