Time crystals are unusual forms of matter made up of particles that "tick," meaning they move back and forth in steady, repeating cycles. Scientists first predicted their existence and later confirmed them about a decade ago. Although practical uses have not yet been developed, these systems are considered promising for future technologies such as quantum computing and advanced data storage.
Over time, researchers have identified several kinds of time crystals, each with unique properties that could be useful in different applications.
Physicists at New York University have now created a new version of a time crystal. In this system, tiny particles float on a cushion of sound and interact by exchanging sound waves. During these interactions, the particles behave in a way that appears to break Newton's Third Law of Motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction (i.e., forces always occur in balanced pairs). In this experiment, however, the particles do not follow that balance. Instead, they move in a nonreciprocal way, meaning their interactions are uneven and not mirrored.
The results, published in Physical Review Letters, point to new possibilities for using time crystals in technology and industry. Unlike many previous experiments, this system is visible to the naked eye and operates on a compact device about one foot tall that can be held in your hand
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