Abstract

A causal order describes the order in which events occur, and how these different events can effect each other. Recently, a description of quantum mechanics making no assumption about the order of events was developed [1]. In this formalism, events are treated in terms of the ability to exchange information between each other. Applying this new formalism to quantum mechanics has shown that processes without a defined causal order can exist. Information can nonetheless be transferred through these processes. Extraordinarily, these processes can accomplish tasks which are not otherwise possible [2-4]. In our group, we have been studying methods to create and characterize one such process: the “quantum SWITCH”[5,6]. We have shown that, using this process, one can obtain computational advantages [5]. We have also performed a specific sequence of measurements, which we used to determine just how “non-causal” our constructed process is [6]

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