Quantum transport phenomena induced by time-dependent fields

TL;DR

This paper reviews the theoretical and experimental landscape of quantum transport phenomena driven by time-dependent fields, highlighting mechanisms like dissipation, quantum pumping, and energy conversion across various quantum systems.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the main theoretical frameworks and recent experimental developments in time-dependent quantum transport, including topological aspects.

Findings

Detailed discussion of dissipation, quantum pumping, and noise in quantum transport.

Insights into quantum optics, spectroscopy, and metrology with electrons.

Emerging trends in topological matter and nanomechanical systems.

Abstract

We present an overview of time-dependent transport phenomena in quantum systems, with a particular emphasis on steady-state regimes. We present the ideas after the main theoretical frameworks to study open-quantum systems out of equilibrium, that are useful to study quantum transport under time-dependent driving. We discuss the fundamentals of the key mechanisms such as dissipation, quantum pumping, noise, and energy conversion that are associated to the problem of quantum transport. Our primary focus is on electronic systems, where decades of research have established a rich theoretical foundation and a wealth of experimental realizations. Topics of interest include quantum optics with electrons, high-precision electron spectroscopy, quantum electrical metrology, and the critical role of quantum fluctuations in transport and thermodynamics. We also extend the discussion to atomic, molecular, and optical systems, as well as nanomechanical platforms, which offer complementary perspectives and are currently experiencing rapid experimental development. Finally, we examine the intersection of time-dependent transport and topological matter, a domain of active investigation. This review aims to gather the diverse approaches and emerging trends that define the current landscape of quantum transport research under time-dependent conditions, bridging theoretical insights with experimental advances across multiple physical platforms.