Finite-frequency prethermalization in periodically driven ergodic systems

Abstract: We investigate the periodically driven dynamics of many-body systems, either classical or quantum, finite-dimensional or mean-field, displaying an unbounded phase-space. Using the lattice $\phi^4$ model and the $p$-spin spherical model as representative examples, we find that the inclusion of a smooth periodic drive atop an otherwise ergodic dynamics leads to a long-lived prethermalization, even at moderate driving frequencies. In specific asymptotic limits, we compute the corresponding prethermal Hamiltonian from an analytical perturbation scheme.