Nonlinear dissipation in a finite-sized quantum system

We consider the effect of an intense, slowly varying electric field ε on a small conducting particle. Landau-Zener transitions provide a mechanism for irreversibly increasing the energy on the electrons in the particle, causing dissipation of the energy of the applied electric field. The rate of dissipation is proportional to ε.32, a result which is universal and different from that of linear response theory. The possibility of observing this effect experimentally is discussed.