Generalized Indefinite Causal Orders in an Integrated Quantum Switch
Indefinite causal order (ICO), a striking feature of quantum mechanics, has attracted broad theoretical and experimental interest. While ICO holds promise for quantum information processing, akin to quantum entanglement, its experimental realization and rigorous verification remain fundamental challenges. Here, we demonstrate and certify generalized multidimensional multipartite ICOs using a programmable integrated-photonic quantum chip implementing a generalized quantum switch. By violating definite causal order bounds with high statistical significance, we experimentally characterize and verify these generalized ICOs. Furthermore, we explore a resource theory of causal nonseparability by implementing a single-copy distillation protocol. Our Letter constitutes a major step toward a generalized framework for quantum causality.
Authors
- Zhaorong Fu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6575-4589)
- Jueming Bao
- Shuheng Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7130-1888)
- Qiongyi He (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2408-4320)
- Qihuang Gong (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4974-6244)
- Xiaojiong Chen
- Jianwei Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1313-9266)
- Yun Zheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7974-6573)
- Yaohao Deng
Institutions
- Peking University (CN)
- Hefei University (CN)
- Shanxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CN)
- Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Physical Review Letters
- Published
- 2025-10-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1103/39vh-84n1
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Quantum Information and Cryptography
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.48