Switching mechanism in periodically driven quantum systems with dissipation

TL;DR

This paper presents a switching mechanism in periodically driven quantum systems with dissipation, enabling control over quantum state occupations through weak driving and avoided crossings, independent of initial conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a novel switching mechanism exploiting avoided crossings in driven quantum systems with dissipation, applicable even with weak driving and small state occupations.

Findings

The switching mechanism is effective even with weak periodic driving.

It operates independently of initial states and driving duration.

Demonstrated using an asymmetric double well potential example.

Abstract

We introduce a switching mechanism in the asymptotic occupations of quantum states induced by the combined effects of a periodic driving and a weak coupling to a heat bath. It exploits one of the ubiquitous avoided crossings in driven systems and works even if both involved Floquet states have small occupations. It is independent of the initial state and the duration of the driving. As a specific example of this general switching mechanism we show how an asymmetric double well potential can be switched between the lower and the upper well by a periodic driving that is much weaker than the asymmetry.