Localization and tunneling in periodically driven bistable systems

The quantum dynamics of a quartic double well, subjected to a harmonically oscillating field, is studied in the framework of the Floquet formalism. The modifications of the familiar tunneling process due to the driving are investigated numerically and explained in terms of the local quasienergy spectrum. In particular, there is a one-dimensional manifold in the parameter space spanned by amplitude and frequency of the driving force, where tunneling is almost completely suppressed by the coherent driving. The influence of dissipation is also discussed.