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arXiv:2401.08523 · Physical Review Letters

Information and Majorization Theory for Fermionic Phase-Space Distributions

Nicolas J. Cerf, Tobias Haas

Published Jul 18, 2025• 1 citation
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We put forward several information-theoretic measures for analyzing the uncertainty of fermionic phase-space distributions using the theory of supernumbers. In contrast to the bosonic case, the anticommuting nature of Grassmann variables allows us to provide simple expressions for the Glauber P, Wigner W, and Husimi Q distributions of the arbitrary state of a single fermionic mode. It appears that all physical states are Gaussian and, thus, can be described by positive or negative thermal distributions (over Grassmann variables). We then prove several fermionic uncertainty relations, including notably the fermionic analogs of the (yet unproven) phase-space majorization and Wigner entropy conjectures for a bosonic mode, as well as the Lieb-Solovej theorem and the Wehrl-Lieb inequality. Our central point is that, although fermionic phase-space distributions are Grassmann-valued and do not have a straightforward interpretation, the corresponding uncertainty measures are expressed as Berezin integrals, which take on real values and are physically relevant.

DOI
10.1103/3qg7-r4mq

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We put forward several information-theoretic measures for analyzing the uncertainty of fermionic phase-space distributions using the theory of supernumbers. In contrast to the bosonic case, the anticommuting nature of Grassmann variables allows us to provide simple expressions for the Glauber P, Wigner W, and Husimi Q distributions of the arbitrary state of a single fermionic mode. It appears that all physical states are Gaussian and, thus, can be described by positive or negative thermal distributions (over Grassmann variables). We then prove several fermionic uncertainty relations, including notably the fermionic analogs of the (yet unproven) phase-space majorization and Wigner entropy conjectures for a bosonic mode, as well as the Lieb-Solovej theorem and the Wehrl-Lieb inequality. Our central point is that, although fermionic phase-space distributions are Grassmann-valued and do not have a straightforward interpretation, the corresponding uncertainty measures are expressed as Berezin integrals, which take on real values and are physically relevant.
We explore the role of majorization theory in quantum phase space. To this purpose, we restrict ourselves to quantum states with positive Wigner functions and show that the continuous version of majorization theory provides an elegant and very natural approach to exploring the information-theoretic properties of Wigner functions in phase space. After identifying all Gaussian pure states as equivalent in the precise sense of continuous majorization, which can be understood in light of Hudson's theorem, we conjecture a fundamental majorization relation: any positive Wigner function is majorized by the Wigner function of a Gaussian pure state (especially, the bosonic vacuum state or ground state of the harmonic oscillator). As a consequence, any Schur-concave function of the Wigner function is lower bounded by the value it takes for the vacuum state. This implies in turn that the Wigner entropy is lower bounded by its value for the vacuum state, while the converse is notably not true. Our main result is then to prove this fundamental majorization relation for a relevant subset of Wigner-positive quantum states which are mixtures of the three lowest eigenstates of the harmonic oscillator. Beyond that, the conjecture is also supported by numerical evidence. We conclude by discussing some implications of this conjecture in the context of entropic uncertainty relations in phase space.
We formulate a general multi-mode Gaussian operator basis for fermions, to enable a positive phase-space representation of correlated Fermi states. The Gaussian basis extends existing bosonic phase-space methods to Fermi systems and thus allows first-principles dynamical or equilibrium calculations in quantum many-body Fermi systems. We prove the completeness of the basis and derive differential forms for products with one- and two-body operators. Because the basis satisfies fermionic superselection rules, the resulting phase space involves only c-numbers, without requiring anticommuting Grassmann variables. Furthermore, because of the overcompleteness of the basis, the phase-space distribution can always be chosen positive. This has important consequences for the sign problem in fermion physics. PACS numbers: 03.65.Ca, 42.50.Lc, 03.75.Ss, 71.10.Fd 1.
We formulate a general multi-mode Gaussian operator basis for fermions, to enable a positive phase-space representation of correlated Fermi states. The Gaussian basis extends existing bosonic phase-space methods to Fermi systems and thus allows first-principles dynamical or equilibrium calculations in quantum many-body Fermi systems. We prove the completeness of the basis and derive differential forms for products with one- and two-body operators. Because the basis satisfies fermionic superselection rules, the resulting phase space involves only c -numbers, without requiring anticommuting Grassmann variables. Furthermore, because of the overcompleteness of the basis, the phase-space distribution can always be chosen positive. This has important consequences for the sign problem in fermion physics.
We obtain a positive probability distribution or Q -function for an arbitrary fermionic many-body system. This is different to previous Q -function proposals, which were either restricted to a subspace of the overall Hilbert space, or used Grassmann methods that do not give probabilities. The fermionic Q -function obtained here is constructed using normally ordered Gaussian operators, which include both non-interacting thermal density matrices and BCS states. We prove that the Q -function exists for any density matrix, is real and positive, and has moments that correspond to Fermi operator moments. It is defined on a finite symmetric phase-space equivalent to the space of real, antisymmetric matrices. This has the natural SO (2 M ) symmetry expected for Majorana fermion operators. We show that there is a physical interpretation of the Q -function: it is the relative probability for observing a given Gaussian density matrix. The distribution has a uniform probability across the space at infinite temperature, while for pure states it has a maximum value on the phase-space boundary. The advantage of probabilistic representations is that they can be used for computational sampling without a sign problem.
Abstract This chapter formally presents the representation of the quantum density operator by phase space distribution functions of phase space variables, leading to expressions for quantum correlation functions in terms of phase space integrals in which phase space variables for each mode—c-numbers for bosons, Grassmann numbers for fermions—replace mode annihilation and creation operators. The emphasis is on double-phase-space normally ordered (positive P type) normalised distribution functions, with distinct phase space variables for annihilation and creation operators; however, symmetrically ordered (Wigner type) distribution functions are also considered, along with unnormalised B distribution functions, which lead to phase space integrals for Fock state populations and coherences. Characteristic functions are first defined and then shown to be related to distribution functions via phase space integrals. The existence and symmetry properties of distribution functions—which are non-unique and non-analytic for bosons—is demonstrated using Bargmann coherent-state projectors.
The local structure present in Wigner and Husimi phase-space distributions and their marginals are studied and quantified via information-theoretic quantities. Shannon, R\'enyi, and cumulative residual entropies of the Wigner and Husimi distributions are examined in the ground and excited states of a harmonic oscillator. The entropies of the Wigner function marginals are lower than the corresponding entropies of the Husimi function marginals, which illustrates how the nodal structure present in the Wigner function is lost upon consideration of the Husimi function. Shannon and cumulative residual entropies of the Wigner function yield entropies which are complex valued. Absolute values and real components of these quantities increase with quantum number, displaying a behavior which is consistent with their real-valued Husimi function counterparts. This comportment is also similar to the real-valued R\'enyi entropies of the Wigner function. The entropies of the Wigner function are observed to be lower than the corresponding Husimi function ones, in agreement with the results for the marginals. The real components of the Wigner function entropies are seen to be closer to the uncertainty relation bound compared to the corresponding Husimi function entropies. These real components are also closer to the bound when contrasted to the entropic sum of the marginal densities. The R\'enyi or collision entropy of the Wigner function sits exactly on the bound. Related statistical correlation measures show that the position-momentum correlation is larger in the Wigner function compared to the Husimi function and increases with quantum number.