Realization of "Time Crystal" Lagrangians and Emergent Sisyphus Dynamics
Alfred D. Shapere, Frank A. Wilczek · arXiv (Cornell University) · 2017
We demonstrate how non-convex crystal Lagrangians arise in the effective description of conventional, realizable physical systems. Such embeddings allow for the resolution of dynamical singularities that arise in the reduced description. Sisyphus dynamics, featuring intervals of forward motion interrupted by quick resets, is a generic consequence. Near the would-be singularity of the time crystal, we find striking microstructure.