Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Why is it that a ticking clock typically becomes less accurate when subject to outside noise but rarely the reverse? Here, we formalise this phenomenon by introducing process causal asymmetry—a fundamental difference in the amount of past information an autonomous agent must track to transform one stochastic process to another over an agent that transforms in the opposite direction. We then illustrate that this asymmetry can surprisingly reverse when agents possess a quantum memory. Thus, the spontaneous direction in which processes get ‘simpler’ may be different, depending on whether quantum information processing is allowed or not.
Source: npj Quantum Information
Authors: Spiros Kechrimparis, Mile Gu, Hyukjoon Kwon
Language: English
Subfield: Statistical and Nonlinear Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $4,290
Funders: Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Fetzer Institute, Foundational Questions Institute, National Research Foundation, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, National Research Foundation Singapore, Ministry of Education - Singapore, Bộ Giáo dục và Ðào tạo, Centre for Quantum Technologies, Korea Institute for Advanced Study
OpenAlex ID: W4387075366