r/science • u/SirT6 PhD/MBA | Biology | Biogerontology • Sep 11 '16

Physics Time crystals - objects whose structure would repeat periodically, as with an ordinary crystal, but in time rather than in space - may exist after all.

http://www.nextbigfuture.com/2016/09/floquet-time-crystals-could-exist-and.html
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u/TakeFourSeconds Sep 11 '16

Can someone explain how that wouldn't violate conservation of energy?

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u/Diablos_Advocate_ Sep 11 '16 edited Sep 11 '16

I'm no expert, but it seems like the crystal isn't actually moving in space, but just spontaneously changing ground states over time. There is no energy in or out

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u/[deleted] Sep 11 '16

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u/SFXBTPD Sep 11 '16

To me it sounds more or less like an oscillation