time crystal

English

Etymology 1

Coined by American biologist Arthur Winfree in 2001. An analogue to crystals, which have repetitive patterns in space.

Noun

time crystal (plural time crystals)

1. (biology) A periodic biological system.

Etymology 2

Coined by American physicist Frank Wilczek in 2012. An extension of the concept of a crystal to encompass time.

Noun

time crystal (plural time crystals)

1. (quantum mechanics) A crystal that has a structure that repeats not only in space, but also in time.