March 27, 2024 | Stefano Gherardini and Gabriele De Chiara
This tutorial introduces quasiprobabilities in quantum thermodynamics and many-body systems. Quasiprobabilities are mathematical quantities that describe the statistics of measurement outcomes at two or more times, incorporating the incompatibility of quantum observables and the state of the system. The paper discusses the definition, interpretation, and properties of main quasiprobabilities, as well as techniques for experimentally accessing quasiprobability distributions. It covers the weak two-point measurement scheme, an interferometric scheme, and detector-assisted measurement methods. The tutorial also explores the use of quasiprobabilities in quantum thermodynamics to describe quantum statistics of work and heat, and in many-body systems to study quantum scrambling, sensitivity to perturbations, and quantum work statistics. The paper emphasizes the importance of quasiprobabilities in capturing non-classical features of quantum systems, such as negative and complex probabilities, and their implications for thermodynamic quantities and quantum correlations. It provides examples of quasiprobabilities in quantum thermodynamics and many-body systems, and discusses the measurement of quasiprobabilities through various experimental schemes. The tutorial aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of quasiprobabilities in quantum science, with a focus on their applications in quantum thermodynamics and many-body systems.This tutorial introduces quasiprobabilities in quantum thermodynamics and many-body systems. Quasiprobabilities are mathematical quantities that describe the statistics of measurement outcomes at two or more times, incorporating the incompatibility of quantum observables and the state of the system. The paper discusses the definition, interpretation, and properties of main quasiprobabilities, as well as techniques for experimentally accessing quasiprobability distributions. It covers the weak two-point measurement scheme, an interferometric scheme, and detector-assisted measurement methods. The tutorial also explores the use of quasiprobabilities in quantum thermodynamics to describe quantum statistics of work and heat, and in many-body systems to study quantum scrambling, sensitivity to perturbations, and quantum work statistics. The paper emphasizes the importance of quasiprobabilities in capturing non-classical features of quantum systems, such as negative and complex probabilities, and their implications for thermodynamic quantities and quantum correlations. It provides examples of quasiprobabilities in quantum thermodynamics and many-body systems, and discusses the measurement of quasiprobabilities through various experimental schemes. The tutorial aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of quasiprobabilities in quantum science, with a focus on their applications in quantum thermodynamics and many-body systems.