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A Wigner Quasiprobability Distribution of Work.
Federico Cerisola1,2,3,4, Franco Mayo1,2, Augusto J Roncaglia1,2
1Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1428EGA, Argentina.
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)
|October 28, 2023
Summary
We introduce a quasiprobability distribution for work based on the Wigner function, enabling coherent measurement of work in quantum systems. This method reveals non-classical features and provides operational definitions for experimental verification.
Area of Science:
- Quantum mechanics
- Statistical mechanics
- Quantum information theory
Background:
- The accurate quantification of work in quantum systems is a fundamental challenge.
- Existing methods often lack operational definitions or struggle with quantum coherence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel quasiprobability distribution for work based on the Wigner function.
- To provide an operationally defined and experimentally measurable approach to work statistics in quantum systems.
- To explore the connection between quantum coherence and non-classical features in work distributions.
Main Methods:
- Defining a quasiprobability distribution for work using the Wigner function of a coupled quantum measurement apparatus.
- Analyzing the properties of this quasidistribution, including its relation to work statistics and experimental measurability.
- Investigating the influence of quantum coherence on the Wigner function and the resulting work distribution.
Main Results:
- A Wigner function-based quasiprobability distribution for work is established.
- This distribution offers a clear operational definition for direct experimental measurement.
- Quantum coherence in the energy eigenbasis is linked to non-classical Wigner function features like negativity and interference fringes.
- The standard two-point measurement work distribution and average energy differences can be derived from this quasiprobability distribution.
Conclusions:
- The proposed Wigner function-based quasiprobability distribution provides a powerful tool for characterizing work in quantum systems.
- It bridges theoretical concepts with experimental capabilities, allowing for direct measurement of work statistics.
- The study highlights the fundamental role of quantum coherence in manifesting non-classical phenomena in quantum thermodynamics.
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