Quantum kicked harmonic oscillator in contact with a heat bath

Abstract: We consider the quantum harmonic oscillator in contact with a finite temperature bath, modelled by the Caldeira-Leggett master equation. Applying periodic kicks to the oscillator, we study the system in different dynamical regimes between classical integrability and chaos on the one hand, and ballistic or diffusive energy absorption on the other. We then investigate the influence of the heat bath on the oscillator in each case. Phase space techniques allow us to simulate the evolution of the system efficiently. In this way, we calculate high resolution Wigner functions at long times, where the system approaches a quasi-stationary cyclic evolution. Thereby, we are able to perform an accurate study of the thermodynamic properties of a non-integrable, quantum chaotic system in contact with a heat bath.