Parity erasure: a foundational principle for indefinite causal order

• URL: http://arxiv.org/abs/2512.08635v2
• Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2025 22:55:41 GMT
• Title: Parity erasure: a foundational principle for indefinite causal order
• Authors: Zixuan Liu, Ognyan Oreshkov,
• Abstract summary: We identify an information-theoretic principle, termed parity erasure, that characterizes such processes.<n>Our characterization does not rely on the formalism of quantum theory itself, but instead is derived from a set of axioms for general operational probabilistic theories.
• Score: 3.044633305006356
• License: http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/
• Abstract: Processes with indefinite causal order can arise when quantum theory is locally valid. Here, we identify an information-theoretic principle, termed parity erasure, that completely characterizes such processes. Our characterization does not rely on the formalism of quantum theory itself, but instead is derived from a set of axioms for general operational probabilistic theories, and thus holds also for a large class of theories beyond quantum theory. This informational approach reveals a fundamental property of information exchange in scenarios with indefinite causal structure.

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