Quantum dynamics in nonequilibrium environments

Abstract

We present a formalism for studying the behavior of quantum systems coupled to nonequilibrium environments exhibiting non-Gaussian fluctuations. We discuss the role of a qubit as a detector of the statistics of environmental fluctuations, as well as non-Markovian effects in both weak and strong-coupling limits. We also discuss the differences between the influences of classical and quantum environments. As examples of the application of this formalism we study the dephasing and relaxation of a charge qubit coupled to nonequilibrium electron transport through single and double quantum dots.