  We investigate an oscillator linearly coupled with a one-dimensional Ising
system. The coupling gives rise to drastic changes both in the oscillator
statics and dynamics. Firstly, there appears a second order phase transition,
with the oscillator stable rest position as its order parameter. Secondly, for
fast spins, the oscillator dynamics is described by an effective equation with
a nonlinear friction term that drives the oscillator towards the stable
equilibrium state.
