Large deviations, metastability and selection

• Stochastic dynamics treated with the methods of quantum mechanics.
• Metastability and large deviations are closely related topics.
• Replicating systems subjected to Darwinian selection ‘compute’ large deviations.

In this note I introduce some techniques to treat systems in contact with (stochastic) thermal baths. The methods and the level of rigour are those of theoretical physics.