Non-Equilibrium Spin Systems
Making Spins Dance
We study driven quantum systems—pushed far from equilibrium—that reveal unexpected collective behavior, such as long-lived “prethermal” states and discrete time crystals. Hyperpolarized nuclear spins offer a powerful platform for such studies: they host exceptionally long coherence lifetimes and can be controlled for tens of minutes using tailored pulse sequences. These engineered phases are not only of fundamental interest but also display remarkable robustness to noise and disorder, positioning them as promising resources for next-generation quantum sensing.
Featured Project
Prethermalization
We demonstrated the ability to lock spin systems into long-lived metastable states through “Floquet prethermalization”. In this regime, interactions among individual spins enhance stability, enabling the system to exhibit remarkably extended lifetimes. We demonstrated record lifetimes T2′ ~90s at room temperature.
Featured Project
Time Crystals
The hyperpolarized states of relevant nuclei reveal novel collective phenomena that are intrinsically stabilized against disorder, including “discrete time crystals”. We have realized the longest-lived time-crystalline phases reported to date, mapped their phase diagrams for the first time, and demonstrated pathways to harness them for robust quantum sensing.
Featured Project
Quantum Control
Hyperpolarized prethermal nuclear spins can be exquisitely controlled in ways that remain robust against error and decoherence. We have demonstrated the ability to drive these spins into complex “orbit-like” states, where they persist for lifetimes exceeding several minutes.
Latest publications about this work
