Characterizing a transition from limited to unlimited diffusion in energy for a time-dependent billiard

Abstract: We explore Fermi acceleration in a driven oval billiard which shows unlimited to limited diffusion in energy when passing from the free to the dissipative case. We provide evidence for a second-order phase transition taking place while detuning the corresponding restitution coefficient from one responsible for the degree of dissipation. A corresponding order parameter is suggested, and its susceptibility is shown to diverge at the transition point. We also discuss the underlying symmetry breaking and the elementary excitation of the controlled diffusion process.