Open quantum systems are a topic of intense theoretical research. The use of master equations to model a system's evolution subject to an interaction with an external environment is one of the most successful theoretical paradigms. General experimental tools to study different open system realizations have been limited, and so it is highly desirable to develop experimental tools which emulate diverse master equation dynamics and give a way to test open systems theories. In this paper we demonstrate a systematic method for engineering specific system-environment interactions and emulating master equations of a particular form using classical stochastic noise. We also demonstrate that non-Markovian noise can be used as a resource to extend the coherence of a quantum system and counteract the adversarial effects of Markovian environments.

Nonequilibrium quasiparticles are ubiquitous in superconducting electronics. These quasiparticles can trap in the internal Andreev bound states of a phase-biased Josephson junction, providing a mechanism for studying their presence and behavior. We characterize a quasiparticle trapping detector device based on a two junction aluminum nanobridge superconducting quantum interference device incorporated into a transmission line resonator. When the device is flux-biased, distinct resonant frequencies develop depending on the trapped quasiparticle number. We demonstrate continuous detection of up to 3 trapped quasiparticles, with detection of a trapped quasiparticle with a signal-to-noise ratio of 27 in 5 μs. We describe initial measurements of quasiparticle behavior and discuss the possible optimization and application of such detector devices.