The area enclosed by hysteresis loops in a periodically forced bistable microscopic system at zero-temperature is examined by using the time dependent Hellmann-Feynman theorem and the Fourier grid Hamiltonian recipe for solving time-dependent Schrödinger equation. Effects of non-zero temperatures are explored with reference to a symmetric double well potential. The barrier crossing or, relaxation rates are shown to correlate systematically with the area of the loop. The possible use of hysteresis loop area in designing field parameters for optimal control is suggested.
