Topic: Emergence of time semi-crystals in holographic dissipative system

Speaker: Prof.Xianhui Ge

Coordinates: PCFT C1124, 16:00, Friday, April 3

Abstract: Understanding how emergent temporal order degrades in driven quantum systems remains a central issue in nonequilibrium physics. Here, we study the melting of discrete time crystals (DTCs) in a periodically driven holographic system featuring spontaneous Z_2 symmetry breaking. Bridging the DTC and fully chaotic regimes, we identify a distinct nonequilibrium time semi-crystals phase that preserves temporal order in competition with chaos. Far from featureless, this phase exhibits a periodic skeleton structure, with discrete subharmonic peaks persisting a continuous power spectrum. Taking the maximal Lyapunov exponent as a dynamical order parameter, we extract a critical scaling behavior across the DTC- time semi-crystals transition. Furthermore, even dynamical transitions between distinct time semi-crystals skeletons can be clearly identified with systematic log-periodic corrections on a power-law scaling, showing signatures of discrete scale invariance. These findings in holographic systems significantly enriches the platforms of studying nonequilibrium phases of matter.