Theory of parametric resonance for discrete time crystals in fully-connected spin-cavity systems

Abstract

We pinpoint the conditions necessary for discrete time crystal (DTC) formation in fully connected spin-cavity systems from the perspective of parametric resonance by mapping these systems onto oscillator like models. We elucidate the role of nonlinearity and dissipation by mapping the periodically driven open Dicke model onto effective linear and nonlinear oscillator models, while we analyze the effect of global symmetry breaking using the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick model with tunable anisotropy. We show that the system's nonlinearity restrains the dynamics from becoming unbounded when driven resonantly. On the other hand, dissipation keeps the oscillation amplitude of the period-doubling instability fixed, which is a key feature of DTCs. The presence of global symmetry breaking in the absence of driving is found to be crucial in the parametric resonant activation of period-doubling response. We provide analytic predictions for the resonant frequencies and amplitudes leading to DTC formation for both systems using their respective oscillator models.