They violate the laws of physics and first existed solely as a concept in a physicist's imagination. Researchers have achieved significant advancements with a time crystal that may facilitate the development of stable quantum computers.
They resemble science fiction and contravene the laws of physics, yet they are authentic. Time crystals were theorized in 2012 by Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek and were initially observed five years thereafter. Since that time, they have successfully produced multiple replicas of the peculiar event.
The researchers recognize that the crystals may be crucial for the development of stable quantum computers. However, both quantum computers and temporal crystals remain excessively unstable for practical utilization. A team of physicists has successfully transformed a quantum computer into a stable time crystal. A research team from the USA and China has successfully enabled a quantum computer to function as a stable form of time crystal.
Time crystals are assemblies of particles that exhibit periodic repetition throughout time, analogous to the spatial repetition observed in conventional crystals. Time crystals has the remarkable ability to replicate patterns autonomously, without the necessity for energy input. In other words, they can oscillate between various states in a predetermined sequence.
This is where quantum computers become intriguing. The fundamental component of quantum computers is known as qubits, or quantum bits. In a traditional computer, bits, which are the fundamental units of data storage, can exist just as 0 or 1. Conversely, a qubit can simultaneously occupy the states of 0, 1, or both, a phenomenon known as superposition.
Prone to disturbance
Due to the ability of qubits to exist in various states concurrently, they can do numerous calculations simultaneously, endowing quantum computers with exceptional capabilities.
The difficulty with quantum computers lies in the problem of qubits preserving their quantum states, as they are susceptible to disturbances and interactions with their environment. This is where time crystals are relevant, as they can sustain their condition over time without dissipating energy. This renders them steady and resilient to disruptions. Physicists typically employ beryllium ions, which are confined in a ring-shaped electric state that transitions into time crystals when subjected to a modest magnetic field.
The Chinese-American research team has successfully reversed the process. The research involved programming a very stable variant of superconducting quantum processes that exhibited consistent stability and repetitive activity without energy dissipation, akin to a time crystal. They developed a quantum system of qubits capable of withstanding significant perturbations without exhibiting excessive instability.
The study is published in the journal Nature Communications. The researchers propose methods for integrating the results into future quantum computers.