Time symmetry in quantum theories and beyond

There exists a stark tension among different formulations of quantum theory as some are inherently time-symmetric while others are time-asymmetric. This tension is crisply captured when considering physical theories as theories of processes. We present the process theory of quantum physics, QPhys, which treats classical systems as internal to quantum theory. We provide three ways to incorporate time symmetry in QPhys. The first restricts the process theory of QPhys to one that satisfies an additional retrocausality constraint. The second is a novel approach, which extends the notions of causality and retrocausality to apply to systems along with processes. Utilizing this approach, we create a toy model for particle physics , where the causal and retrocausal systems correspond to particles and anti-particles respectively. The third approach extends QPhys to a supertheory that satisfies neither a causality nor a retrocausality constraint. To avoid unphysical predictions we modify either its composition rule or its processes.

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Publication Details

Journal
Quantum
Published
2026-09-30
DOI
https://doi.org/10.22331/q-2026-09-30-2221
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Time symmetry in quantum theories and beyond

Bob Coecke, Maria E. Stasinou, John H. Selby, Stefano Gogioso
1 citations
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
article

Time symmetry in quantum theories and beyond

Bob Coecke, Maria E. Stasinou, John H. Selby, Stefano Gogioso
article en
1 citations

Abstract

There exists a stark tension among different formulations of quantum theory as some are inherently time-symmetric while others are time-asymmetric. This tension is crisply captured when considering physical theories as theories of processes. We present the process theory of quantum physics, QPhys, which treats classical systems as internal to quantum theory. We provide three ways to incorporate time symmetry in QPhys. The first restricts the process theory of QPhys to one that satisfies an additional retrocausality constraint. The second is a novel approach, which extends the notions of causality and retrocausality to apply to systems along with processes. Utilizing this approach, we create a toy model for particle physics , where the causal and retrocausal systems correspond to particles and anti-particles respectively. The third approach extends QPhys to a supertheory that satisfies neither a causality nor a retrocausality constraint. To avoid unphysical predictions we modify either its composition rule or its processes.

QuantumVol. 10
Perimeter Institute (CA), University of Oxford (GB), University of Gdańsk (PL), Applied Quantum Technologies (United States) (US), Industrial Systems Institute (GR), Athena Research and Innovation Center In Information Communication & Knowledge Technologies (GR), Quantum Technologies (Sweden) (SE)
John Templeton Foundation, Fundacja na rzecz Nauki Polskiej
Reduced inequalities
Openalex Percentile: Top 100%
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
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Time symmetry in quantum theories and beyond — Bob Coecke, Maria E. Stasinou, et al. · Quantum (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS