We consider dissipative one-dimensional systems subject to a periodic force
and study numerically how a time-varying friction affects the dynamics. As a
model system, particularly suited for numerical analysis, we investigate the
driven cubic oscillator in the presence of friction. We find that, if the
damping coefficient increases in time up to a final constant value, then the
basins of attraction of the leading resonances are larger than they would have
been if the coefficient had been fixed at that value since the beginning. From
a quantitative point of view, the scenario depends both on the final value and
the growth rate of the damping coefficient. The relevance of the results for
the spin-orbit model are discussed in some detail.Comment: 30 pages, 6 figure