"Photonic Metamaterial Enables Continuous Time Crystal Formation"
Researchers at the University of Southampton have demonstrated a continuous time crystal state using a photonic metamaterial. The system used is a 2D array of plasmonic metamolecules supported by flexible nanowires. Continuously illuminating this photonic metamaterial with a light that resonates with the plasmonic mode of the metamolecules caused a spontaneous phase transition to a state that possesses the key properties of a continuous time crystal. This state is characterized by continuous oscillations resulting from many-body interactions between the metamolecules. The unique system realized by the researchers could open new avenues for research into time crystals and dynamic classical many-body states in the strongly correlated regime.