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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.

There are several mathematical formulations of quantum mechanics. The Schrödinger picture expresses quantum states in terms of wavefunctions over, e.g. position or momentum. Alternatively, phase-space formulations represent states with quasi-probability distributions over, e.g. position and momentum. A quasi-probability distribution resembles a probability distribution but may have negative and non-real entries. The most famous quasi-probability distribution, the Wigner function, has played a pivotal role in the development of a continuous-variable quantum theory that has clear analogues of position and momentum. However, the Wigner function is ill-suited for much modern quantum-information research, which is focused on finite-dimensional systems and general observables. Instead, recent years have seen the Kirkwood–Dirac (KD) distribution come to the forefront as a powerful quasi-probability distribution for analysing quantum mechanics. The KD distribution allows tools from statistics and probability theory to be applied to problems in quantum-information processing. A notable difference to the Wigner function is that the KD distribution can represent a quantum state in terms of arbitrary observables. This paper reviews the KD distribution, in three parts. First, we present definitions and basic properties of the KD distribution and its generalisations. Second, we summarise the KD distribution’s extensive usage in the study or development of measurement disturbance; quantum metrology; weak values; direct measurements of quantum states; quantum thermodynamics; quantum scrambling and out-of-time-ordered correlators; and the foundations of quantum mechanics, including Leggett–Garg inequalities, the consistent-histories interpretation and contextuality. We emphasise connections between operational quantum advantages and negative or non-real KD quasi-probabilities. Third, we delve into the KD distribution’s mathematical structure. We summarise the current knowledge regarding the geometry of KD-positive states (the states for which the KD distribution is a classical probability distribution), describe how to witness and quantify KD non-positivity, and outline relationships between KD non-positivity, coherence and observables’ incompatibility.

We propose a special relativistic framework for quantum mechanics. It is based on introducing a Hilbert space for events. Events are taken as primitive notions (as customary in relativity), whereas quantum systems (e.g. fields and particles) are emergent in the form of joint probability amplitudes for position and time of events. Textbook relativistic quantum mechanics and quantum field theory can be recovered by dividing the event Hilbert spaces into space and time (a foliation) and then conditioning the event states onto the time part. Our theory satisfies the full Lorentz symmetry as a ‘geometric’ unitary transformation, and possesses relativistic observables for space (location of an event) and time (position in time of an event).

Within the established theoretical framework of quantum mechanics, interference always occurs between pairs of paths through an interferometer. Higher order interferences with multiple constituents are excluded by Born's rule and can only exist in generalized probabilistic theories. Thus, high-precision experiments searching for such higher order interferences are a powerful method to distinguish between quantum mechanics and more general theories. Here, we perform such a test in an optical multi-path interferometer, which avoids crucial systematic errors, has access to the entire phase space and is more stable than previous experiments. Our results are in accordance with quantum mechanics and rule out the existence of higher order interference terms in optical interferometry to an extent that is more than four orders of magnitude smaller than the expected pairwise interference, refining previous bounds by two orders of magnitude.

The pigeonhole principle: “If you put three pigeons in two pigeonholes, at least two of the pigeons end up in the same hole,” is an obvious yet fundamental principle of nature as it captures the very essence of counting. Here however we show that in quantum mechanics this is not true! We find instances when three quantum particles are put in two boxes, yet no two particles are in the same box. Furthermore, we show that the above “quantum pigeonhole principle” is only one of a host of related quantum effects, and points to a very interesting structure of quantum mechanics that was hitherto unnoticed. Our results shed new light on the very notions of separability and correlations in quantum mechanics and on the nature of interactions. It also presents a new role for entanglement, complementary to the usual one. Finally, interferometric experiments that illustrate our effects are proposed.

Dynamics, the physical change in time and a pillar of natural sciences, can be regarded as an emergent phenomenon when the system of interest is part of a larger, static one. This ‘relational approach to time’, in which the system’s environment provides a temporal reference, does not only provide insight into foundational issues of physics, but holds the potential for a deeper theoretical understanding as it intimately links statics and dynamics. Reinforcing the significance of this connection, we demonstrate, based on recent progress (Gemsheim and Rost 2023 Phys. Rev. Lett. 131 140202), the role of emergent time as a vital link between time- independent and time- dependent perturbation theory in quantum mechanics. We calculate first order contributions, which are often the most significant, and discuss the issue of degenerate spectra. Based on our results, we envision future applications for the calculation of dynamical phenomena based on a single pure energy eigenstate.

The simultaneous quantum estimation of multiple parameters can provide a better precision than estimating them individually. This is an effect that is impossible classically. We review the rich background of quantum-limited local estimation theory of multiple parameters that underlies these advances. We discuss some of the main results in the field and its recent progress. We close by highlighting future challenges and open questions.

We propose an optimal and efficient numerical test for witnessing genuine multipartite nonlocality based on a geometric approach. In particular, we consider two non-equivalent models of local hidden variables, namely the Svetlichny and the no-signaling bilocal models. While our knowledge concerning these models is well established for Bell-type scenarios involving two measurement settings per party, the general case based on an arbitrary number of settings is a considerably more challenging task and very little work has been done in this field. In this paper, we applied such general tests to detect and characterize genuine n -way nonlocal correlations for various states of three qubits and qutrits. Apart from the fundamental problem of characterizing genuine multipartite nonlocal correlations, the extension of the number of measurements beyond two is also of practical importance. As a measure of nonlocality, we use the probability of violation of local realism under randomly sampled observables, and the strength of nonlocality, described by the resistance to white noise admixture. In particular, we analyze to what extent the Bell-type scenario involving two measurement settings can be used to certify genuine n -way nonlocal correlations generated for more general models. In addition, we propose a simple procedure to detect such nonlocal correlations for randomly chosen settings with an efficiency of up to 100%. Due to its near-perfect efficiency, our method may open new possibilities in device-independent quantum cryptography applications where strong nonlocality between all partners is required.

The utilization of higher-dimensional systems holds promise for unveiling novel phenomena and enhancing the efficacy of practical tasks, such as entanglement-based quantum cryptography. However, detecting quantum correlations within qudit systems poses a formidable challenge. In this study, we delve into the intricacies of Bell’s nonlocality within higher-dimensional systems. We introduce a novel correlation function and leverage it to construct a family of Bell inequalities adapted for quantum systems of arbitrary dimensionality. By gauging the probability of local realism violation under random measurements as our primary metric, we explore the relation between pure state entanglement and nonlocality. Our findings align closely with predictions derived from the comprehensive polytope analysis via linear programming methods. While our focus predominantly centers on the two-qudit scenario, our methodology readily extends to the N -partite case, accommodating an arbitrary number of measurements per party.

The general framework of Entropic Dynamics (ED) is used to construct non-relativistic models of relational Quantum Mechanics from well-known inference principles—probability, entropy and information geometry. Although only partially relational—the absolute structures of simultaneity and Euclidean geometry are still retained—these models provide a useful testing ground for ideas that will prove useful in the context of more realistic relativistic theories. The fact that in ED the positions of particles have definite values, just as in classical mechanics, has allowed us to adapt to the quantum case some intuitions from Barbour and Bertotti’s classical framework. Here, however, we propose a new measure of the mismatch between successive states that is adapted to the information metric and the symplectic structures of the quantum phase space. We make explicit that ED is temporally relational and we construct non-relativistic quantum models that are spatially relational with respect to rigid translations and rotations. The ED approach settles the longstanding question of what form the constraints of a classical theory should take after quantization: the quantum constraints that express relationality are to be imposed on expectation values. To highlight the potential impact of these developments, the non-relativistic quantum model is parametrized into a generally covariant form and we show that the ED approach evades the analogue of what in quantum gravity has been called the problem of time.