Physics is one of the most incredible sciences of our times. Access to the best available technology in our era allows science to investigate those predictions that challenge everything we thought we knew about the universe.
For this reason, physics never ceases to amaze us. And on this occasion the existence of the time crystals was demonstrated, which began as a theory in 2012 and which was quickly refuted, being demonstrated five years later.
The crystals of time: movement without energy
The first time the time crystal theory was mentioned was in 2012 by Frank Wilczek, physicist and mathematician at MIT and winner of the Nobel Prize.
The crystals are a particular group of atoms in which the same pattern is repeated as in space. Wilczek's theory is based on this, the scientist postulated that if crystals are able to repeat their structure in space, perhaps they could do the same in time.
This means that the particles would move and return periodically to their original state. The time crystals would be able to move even in their lowest energy state, known as the basal state. However, this movement should be done without energy. For this reason, the time crystal is a new form of matter because it is unable to be in balance, it is always moving.
However, this does not comply with the laws of physics, which dictate that all movement is accompanied by energy. And for this reason, the theory was initially refuted.
Proving that the crystals of time exist
Also, two independent teams began to investigate the possible creation of a time crystal.
The two teams were led by the scientist Yao and in both cases they used a blueprint method to measure the properties of a possible time crystal. This technique allowed them to even predict the different phases that would surround the phase of the time crystals.
The team of specialists focused on the property of the particles with angular momentum, the spin. As reported in their results, this property could be constantly reversed by an external force at regular intervals, thus generating oscillatory movement.
With this in mind, one of the research teams fired a laser at ytterbium atoms (Yb) and this caused oscillations in the atoms at different intervals. As mentioned, the ytterbium atoms would be behaving like crystals of time. On the other hand, the other team focused on using microwaves to generate a disturbance of the intervals generated by a time crystal.
Both teams are working to create a time crystal that meets the stipulated by the theory, but the discovery that the crystals of time really exist marks a before and after in physics.
Now, the new state of matter must be studied in depth and it will have to be determined if it exists in nature or is a mere creation of the human being.
