Overview

• Physicists at TU Dortmund University have developed a time crystal using indium gallium arsenide, achieving a lifespan millions of times longer than any before.
• The time crystal's oscillations are triggered by nuclear spin polarization, a process enabled by continuous illumination.
• This breakthrough confirms the theoretical concept of time crystals, first proposed by Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek in 2012.
• The crystal's period can be manipulated by adjusting experimental conditions, offering insights into chaotic behavior when it 'melts'.
• This advancement opens new possibilities for precise frequency measurement in quantum physics applications.