This thesis will be divided into two parts. In the first part, theory and results of a novel system in which a superconducting single-electron transistor (S-SET) coupled to a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) serving as a tunable electromagnetic environment for the S-SET will be discussed, including effects of dissipation, resonant tunneling with ...

A novel model system is developed to study the effects of the environment on transport properties of a superconducting single-electron transistor (S-SET). The impedance of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) 50 nm below the sample surface serving as the environment can be tuned in situ. A quantum dot is readily formed in the 2DEG. Josephson tunneling ...