Realization of two-dimensional discrete time crystals with anisotropic Heisenberg coupling

Published

January 28, 2026

Author(s)

Eric Switzer, Niall Robertson, Nathan Keenan, Ángel Rodríguez, Andrea D’Urbano, Bibek Pokharel, Talat Rahman, Oles Shtanko, Sergiy Zhuk, Nicolás Lorente

Abstract

A discrete time crystal (DTC) is an out-of-equilibrium phase of matter that spontaneously breaks discrete time-translation symmetry. Previous studies have been limited to a set of models with Ising-like couplings - and mostly only in one dimension - thus precluding our understanding of the existence (or not) of DTCs in models with more realistic interactions. In this work, by combining the latest generation of IBM quantum processors with state-of-the-art tensor network methods, we demonstrate the existence of a DTC in a two-dimensional system governed by anisotropic Heisenberg interactions. We uncover a rich phase diagram encompassing spin-glass, ergodic, and time-crystalline phases, and identify the interplay of initialization, interaction anisotropy, and driving protocols in stabilizing the DTC phase. By extending the study of Floquet matter beyond simplified models, we lay the groundwork for exploring how driven systems bridge the gap between quantum coherence and emergent non-equilibrium thermodynamics.

Citation

Nature Communications

Volume

17

Issue

1

Pub Type

Journals

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67787-1

Local Download

Citation

Switzer, E. , Robertson, N. , Keenan, N. , Rodríguez, Á. , D’Urbano, A. , Pokharel, B. , Rahman, T. , Shtanko, O. , Zhuk, S. and Lorente, N. (2026), Realization of two-dimensional discrete time crystals with anisotropic Heisenberg coupling, Nature Communications, [online], https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-67787-1, https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=959357 (Accessed January 29, 2026)