Gyroscopically stabilized oscillators and heat baths (Q596642)

The authors investigate the stability of a gyroscopically stabilized system interacting with a finite or infinite-dimensional heat bath. As a standard model for a gyroscopic system, they consider a particle on rotating disc and a charged oscillator in magnetic field. The authors show that coupling to a finite (that is nonthermal) system of oscillators with sufficient coupling strength induces instability. The authors also consider the infinite-dimensional limit. In this case dissipation plays a crucial role. A graphical criterion is given for determining the onset of instability. Moreover, the authors also discuss other types of infinite-dimensional coupling.