Quantum causal modelling

2015/12/31 by Fabio Costa, Sally Shrapnel · 278 citations
Computer Science · Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Causal model #Causal structure #Computer science #Formalism (music) #Mathematics #Physics #Quantum #Quantum Computing Algorithms and Architecture #Quantum Information and Cryptography #Quantum Mechanics and Applications #Quantum mechanics #Set (abstract data type) #Statistical physics #Theoretical computer science #quant-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/1367-2630/18/6/063032

published in New Journal of Physics 18(6), 063032 (IOP Publishing) · 15+3 pages. Published version

openalex publication_date 2016/06/24 · arxiv created 2016/06/27 · arxiv updated 2016/06/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/08

Abstract

Causal modelling provides a powerful set of tools for identifying causal structure from observed correlations. It is well known that such techniques fail for quantum systems, unless one introduces 'spooky' hidden mechanisms. Whether one can produce a genuinely quantum framework in order to discover causal structure remains an open question. Here we introduce a new framework for quantum causal modelling that allows for the discovery of causal structure. We define quantum analogues for core features of classical causal modelling techniques, including the causal Markov condition and faithfulness. Based on the process matrix formalism, this framework naturally extends to generalised structures with indefinite causal order.

Citations

• Strong Completeness and Faithfulness in Bayesian Networks
• Quantum Circuit Architecture
• A “general boundary” formulation for quantum mechanics and quantum gravity
• Operational approach to open dynamics and quantifying initial correlations
• An introduction to quantum machine learning
• Classical interventions in quantum systems. I. The measuring process
• Pointer basis of quantum apparatus: Into what mixture does the wave packet collapse?
• Wormholes, Time Machines, and the Weak Energy Condition
• Theoretical framework for quantum networks
• Towards quantum gravity: a framework for probabilistic theories with non-fixed causal structure
• Quantum correlations with no causal order
• Probabilistic theories with purification
• On the Einstein Podolsky Rosen paradox
• Quantum computation with programmable connections between gates
• Divisible quantum dynamics satisfies temporal Tsirelson’s bound
• Quantum picturalism

Cited by

• Experimental violation of local causality in a quantum network