Qudit-native framework for discrete time crystals
Phys. Rev. B 114, 144301 – Published 4 September, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/qbhv-yr3d
Abstract
We introduce a qudit-native framework for engineering rich and robust discrete time crystals (DTCs) by leveraging their internal multilevel structure. Unlike in qubit systems, qudit-based DTCs exhibit distinct dynamical mechanisms that arise only in multilevel systems, as supported by a dressed normal-form analysis in the heating-suppression regime. These mechanisms are manifested in representative systems: we show that subspace-selective embedded kicks stabilize higher-order subharmonic responses and suppress thermalization, as demonstrated in spin-1 chains; in spin-3/2 systems, extending embedded kicks to more levels enables different level partitions and reveals that DTC robustness is dictated by the symmetry of the partition; and in spin-2 platforms, we realize concurrent period-doubled and period-tripled DTCs under a unified drive. These findings establish a systematic, hardware-efficient methodology for designing stable and multifunctional Floquet phases of matter on modern qudit-based quantum processors.
