An illustrative image of time crystal (Image source: AI-generated image)
A duo of researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder has created the first macroscopic “time crystal” — a phase of matter that exists in constant, repeating motion that is visible to the naked eye. The researchers say it has a lot of potential applications, including data storage and anti-counterfeiting.
A team of physicists at CU Boulder has created the first time crystal that is large enough to be seen with naked eye. This breakthrough makes a bizarre form of matter tangible, opening the door to new technologies. For this achievement, the researchers used liquid crystals — the same material used in LCDs.
A time crystal is an exotic phase of matter — first theorized by Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek in 2012 — in which particles exist in a constant state of repeating motion, even in their state of rest, like a clock that runs forever without a battery. While scientists have already created microscopic time crystals with quantum computers, the one from CU Boulder is the first-ever that can be observed directly.
The team — made up of Professor Ivan Smalyukh and his graduate student Hanqing Zhao — achieved this by sandwiching a solution of liquid crystals between two pieces of glass coated with dye. When the researchers exposed them to a specific type of light, the dye molecules squeezed on the liquid crystals, creating thousands of new kinks.
These kinks began to move and interact with each other in complex repeating patterns that can continued to repeat for hours. The patterns were remarkably resistant to external interaction, as they remained unchanged even as the researchers changed the temperature.
The researchers say their creation could have several applications in our everyday life but mentioned two specific applications. It could be used to create a “time watermark” on currency notes that one can simply shine light on, verifying the authenticity of bills by watching the resulting patterns. They also suggest that by stacking different time crystals, they could create incredibly complex patterns, which can potentially be leveraged for storage of data.
Chibuike Okpara – Tech Writer – 179 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2024
I have always been fascinated by technology and digital devices my entire life and even got addicted to it. I have always marveled at the intricacy of even the simplest digital devices and systems around us. I have been writing and publishing articles online for about 6 years now, just about a year ago, I found myself lost in the marvel of smartphones and laptops we have in our hands every day. I developed a passion for learning about new devices and technologies that come with them and at some point, I asked myself, “Why not get into writing tech articles?” It is useless to say I followed up the idea — it is evident. I am an open-minded individual who derives an infinite amount of joy from researching and discovering new information, I believe there is so much to learn and such a short life to live, so I put my time to good use — learning new things. I am a ‘bookworm’ of the internet and digital devices. When I am not writing, you will find me on my devices still, I do explore and admire the beauty of nature and creatures. I am a fast learner and quickly adapt to changes, always looking forward to new adventures.