Data provided by National Institute of Standards and Technology
Driven nonlinear oscillators constitute a universal paradigm for understanding synchronization, frequency pulling, and frequency comb formation in nonequilibrium systems. Here, we realize such an emergent nonlinear oscillator in strongly interacting cesium Rydberg vapor, where coherent optical excitation, dissipation, and long-range interactions give rise to a driven-dissipative time crystal phase with intrinsic oscillation frequencies. Applying a radio-frequency (RF) field allows controlled tuning of the intrinsic oscillation frequency. Under RF heterodyne conditions, we observe intermodulation, frequency pulling, and, at strong drive, the emergence
of a comb-like spectrum in the atomic coherence. We qualitatively capture these observations using a four-level mean-field model and demonstrate a classical analogue with a driven Van der Pol oscillator. Our
results establish interacting Rydberg ensembles as a tunable platform for exploring nonequilibrium time crystalline order, nonlinear synchronization, and frequency comb generation in many-body atomic systems.
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Updated: 2026-09-04
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| Title | Frequency Comb Behavior of Time Crystals in an RF-Driven Dissipative Rydberg System |
|---|---|
| Description | Driven nonlinear oscillators constitute a universal paradigm for understanding synchronization, frequency pulling, and frequency comb formation in nonequilibrium systems. Here, we realize such an emergent nonlinear oscillator in strongly interacting cesium Rydberg vapor, where coherent optical excitation, dissipation, and long-range interactions give rise to a driven-dissipative time crystal phase with intrinsic oscillation frequencies. Applying a radio-frequency (RF) field allows controlled tuning of the intrinsic oscillation frequency. Under RF heterodyne conditions, we observe intermodulation, frequency pulling, and, at strong drive, the emergence of a comb-like spectrum in the atomic coherence. We qualitatively capture these observations using a four-level mean-field model and demonstrate a classical analogue with a driven Van der Pol oscillator. Our results establish interacting Rydberg ensembles as a tunable platform for exploring nonequilibrium time crystalline order, nonlinear synchronization, and frequency comb generation in many-body atomic systems. |
| Modified | 2026-03-09 00:00:00 |
| Publisher Name | National Institute of Standards and Technology |
| Contact | mailto:[email protected] |
| Keywords | Time crystals , Rydberg atoms , RF heterodyne , Self sustained oscillations |
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