Researchers Link Time Crystals to Mechanical Systems for Quantum Applications

Thu, 07 May 2026 01:32:00 +0200

Scientists at Aalto University's Department of Applied Physics have successfully connected a time crystal to an external device, marking a significant milestone in quantum physics. Time crystals are a unique form of matter proposed by Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek in 2012, which exhibit perpetual motion in their lowest energy state without requiring external energy input. Previously, these systems could not be controlled or connected to outside devices. The Aalto team, led by Jere Mäkinen, used radio waves to create magnons in a Helium-3 superfluid cooled near absolute zero. Once the external input stopped, these magnons organized into a time crystal that continued its motion for up to 108 cycles. The researchers then linked the crystal to a mechanical oscillator, demonstrating that its properties could be tuned similarly to known optomechanical systems, such as those used in gravitational wave detection. This breakthrough opens potential applications for quantum technologies, including