Realizing quantum energy storage and sensing with prethermal time crystals stabilized via power-law-graded Ising interactions

Abstract

We study prethermal discrete time-crystalline (PDTC) phases in one-dimensional spin-1/2 chains with power-law-graded Ising interactions under periodic Floquet driving. By generalizing Stark localization to power-law-graded Ising interaction profiles, we identify robust period-doubled dynamics across a wide range of interaction exponents, stabilized by the interplay between coherent driving and spatially varying coupling. Within the PDTC phase, the energy stored in the system, interpreted as a quantum battery, increases superlinearly with system size, although no scaling advantage persists in normalized power. Beyond energy storage, we demonstrate that the PDTC phase supports enhanced quantum sensing. The quantum Fisher information associated with estimating timing deviations in the drive scales superlinearly with system size, indicating quantum-enhanced sensitivity. The degree of quantum advantage can be tuned by varying the interaction exponent, though PDTC behavior remains robust throughout. Our results position power-law-graded Ising interacting Floquet systems as robust platforms for storing quantum energy and achieving metrological enhancement.

arXiv comment17 pages, 17 figures