Bridging thermodynamics and metrology in nonequilibrium quantum thermometry

Abstract

Single-qubit thermometry presents the simplest tool to measure the temperature of thermal baths with reduced invasivity. At thermal equilibrium, the temperature uncertainty is linked to the heat capacity of the qubit, however, the best precision is achieved outside the equilibrium condition. Here, we discuss a way to generalize this relation in a nonequilibrium regime, taking into account purely quantum effects such as coherence. We support our findings with an experimental photonic simulation.