Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation

    Boundary Time Crystals Induced by Local Dissipation and Long-Range Interactions

    Zhuqing Wang1,*, Ruochen Gao1,*, Xiaoling Wu1, Berislav Buča2,3,4, Klaus Mølmer5, Li You1,6,†, and Fan Yang7,8,‡

    • *These authors contributed equally to this work.
    • †Contact author: lyou@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn
    • ‡Contact author: fanyangphys@gmail.com

    Phys. Rev. Lett. 135, 230401 – Published 1 December, 2025

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/jhd4-1khw

    Abstract

    Driven-dissipative many-body systems support nontrivial quantum phases absent in equilibrium. As a prominent example, the interplay between coherent driving and collective dissipation can lead to a dynamical quantum phase that spontaneously breaks time-translation symmetry. This so-called boundary time crystal (BTC) is fragile in the presence of local dissipation, which can easily relax the system to a stationary state. In this Letter, we demonstrate a robust BTC that is intrinsically induced by local dissipation. We provide extensive numerical evidence to support the existence of the BTC and study its behaviors in different regimes. In particular, with decreasing interaction range, we identify a transition from mean-field limit cycles to correlated BTCs featuring sizable quantum correlations. Our studies significantly broaden the scope of nonequilibrium phases and shed new light on the experimental search for dynamical quantum matter.

    Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

    Authorization Required

    We need you to provide your credentials before accessing this content.

    Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

    References (Subscription Required)

    Outline

    Information

    Sign In to Your Journals Account

    Filter

    Filter

    Article Lookup

    Enter a citation