Statics and dynamics of a harmonic oscillator coupled to a one-dimensional Ising system

Abstract

We investigate an oscillator linearly coupled with a one-dimensional Ising system. The coupling gives rise to drastic changes both in the oscillator statics and dynamics. Firstly, there appears a second order phase transition, with the oscillator stable rest position as its order parameter. Secondly, for fast spins, the oscillator dynamics is described by an effective equation with a nonlinear friction term that drives the oscillator towards the stable equilibrium state.Comment: Proceedings of the 2010 Granada Semina