Noncontextuality inequalities for prepare-transform-measure scenarios

We provide the first systematic technique for deriving witnesses of contextuality in prepare-transform-measure scenarios. More specifically, we show how linear quantifier elimination can be used to compute a polytope of correlations consistent with generalized noncontextuality in such scenarios. This polytope is specified as a set of noncontextuality inequalities that are necessary and sufficient conditions for observed data in the scenario to admit of a classical explanation relative to any linear operational identities, if one ignores some constraints from diagram preservation. While including these latter constraints generally leads to tighter inequalities, it seems that nonlinear quantifier elimination would be required to systematically include them. We also provide a linear program which can certify the nonclassicality of a set of numerical data arising in a prepare-transform-measure experiment. We apply our results to get a robust noncontextuality inequality for transformations that can be violated within the stabilizer subtheory. Finally, we give a simple algorithm for computing all the linear operational identities holding among a given set of states, of transformations, or of measurements.

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Publication Details

Journal
Quantum
Published
2026-10-27
DOI
https://doi.org/10.22331/q-2026-10-27-2250
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Noncontextuality inequalities for prepare-transform-measure scenarios

Robert W. Spekkens, Ana Belén Sainz, John H. Selby, Roberto D. Baldijão et al.
2 citations
Quantum
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
article

Noncontextuality inequalities for prepare-transform-measure scenarios

Robert W. Spekkens, Ana Belén Sainz, John H. Selby, Roberto D. Baldijão, David Schmid
article en
2 citations

Abstract

We provide the first systematic technique for deriving witnesses of contextuality in prepare-transform-measure scenarios. More specifically, we show how linear quantifier elimination can be used to compute a polytope of correlations consistent with generalized noncontextuality in such scenarios. This polytope is specified as a set of noncontextuality inequalities that are necessary and sufficient conditions for observed data in the scenario to admit of a classical explanation relative to any linear operational identities, if one ignores some constraints from diagram preservation. While including these latter constraints generally leads to tighter inequalities, it seems that nonlinear quantifier elimination would be required to systematically include them. We also provide a linear program which can certify the nonclassicality of a set of numerical data arising in a prepare-transform-measure experiment. We apply our results to get a robust noncontextuality inequality for transformations that can be violated within the stabilizer subtheory. Finally, we give a simple algorithm for computing all the linear operational identities holding among a given set of states, of transformations, or of measurements.

QuantumVol. 10
Perimeter Institute (CA), University of Gdańsk (PL)
UK Research and Innovation, Government of Canada, European Commission, Narodowym Centrum Nauki, Institut Périmètre de physique théorique, Ministry of Colleges and Universities, HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Openalex Percentile: Top 100%
Quantum Mechanics and Applications
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Noncontextuality inequalities for prepare-transform-measure scenarios — Robert W. Spekkens, Ana Belén Sainz, et al. · Quantum (2026) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS