  Recent work has studied fermion transport through a finite one-dimensional
lattice of quantum dots, with localized particle loss from the central lattice
site. The dots at each end of the lattice are connected to macroscopic leads,
represented as zero-temperature reservoirs of free fermions with a given
potential difference. Here we show how this model represents one limiting case
of a larger class of models that can be realized with cold quantum gases in
optical lattices. While quantum gas realizations allow many system parameters
to be varied, we note limitations from finite size effects, and conclude that
quantum dots and quantum gases offer complementary views on transport through
lossy finite lattices.
