Stochastic discrete time crystals: Entropy production and subharmonic synchronization

Abstract: Discrete time crystals are periodically driven systems that display spontaneous symmetry breaking of time translation invariance in the form of indefinite subharmonic oscillations. We introduce a thermodynamically consistent model for a discrete time crystal and analyze it using the framework of stochastic thermodynamics. In particular, we evaluate the rate of energy dissipation of this many body system of interacting noisy subharmonic oscillators in contact with a heat bath. Our model displays the novel phenomena of subharmonic synchronization, which corresponds to collective subharmonic oscillations of the individual units.