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arXiv:2209.05510

Photo-induced Superconductivity = Discrete Time Crystal?

Zhehao Dai, Vibhu Ravindran, Norman Y. Yao, Michael P. Zaletel

Published Sep 12, 2022• 0 citations
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Abstract

We propose that periodic driving can stabilize a new type of order, "period-doubled superconductivity", in which a superconducting order parameter oscillates at half the frequency of the drive. Despite having a zero time-averaged order parameter, the ordered state exhibits perfect conductivity and a Meissner effect. Our theory predicts that this phase may be realized as the steady state of materials shown to exhibit photo-induced superconductivity. We propose to detect the period-doubled oscillation of the order parameter by utilizing a Josephson junction between a photo-induced superconductor and a conventional superconductor. Our theory can also be realized via parametric driving of cold bosonic atoms in an optical lattice.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2209.05510

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We identify a time crystal phase characterized by a frequency half of the driving frequency in disordered superconductors by employing the time-dependent Bogoliubov--de Gennes formalism at zero temperature with a periodically driven coupling constant. After a period of exponential increase of spatial inhomogeneities and exponential suppression of the order parameter amplitude, the time crystal develops islands of different sizes. Each of these islands is a time crystal with the same frequency albeit with a phase shift $\ensuremath{\pi}$ with respect to the homogeneous time crystal. After its emergence, the island gradually becomes smaller, though the phase shift persists, until it is abruptly synchronized at a time that it depends on its initial size. We find a critical disorder strength, still deep in the metallic phase, at which the time crystal phase terminates. For even stronger disorder, the order parameter oscillates with the driving frequency in regions where localization effects are not important.
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