Résumé
We will discuss the behavior of one or more elementary quantum system (atom, molecules,quantum dot, . . . ) interacting with a stationary, simple and rich electromagnetic environmentout of thermal equilibrium: The electromagnetic field is produced by a simple configuration ofmacroscopic objects held at thermal equilibrium at different temperatures. We will show howthe internal atomic dynamics can be deeply affected by the non equilibrium configurationleading to unexpected phenomena like a spontaneous inversion of population, new coolingmechanisms obtained by heating the system [1], and the possibility to create and protect entanglementin a stationary and robust way [2]. Finally, we will discuss how this system maydirectly allow the realization of atomic quantum thermal machines, with high efficiency and agenuine quantum behavior [3].------------[1] B. Bellomo, R. Messina, and M. Antezza, Europhys. Lett. 100, 20006 (2012)[2] B. Bellomo and M. Antezza, Europhys. Lett. 104, 10006 (2013)[3] B. Leggio, B. Bellomo, and M. Antezza, Phys. Rev. A 91, 012117 (2015)