Quantum prescriptions are more ontologically distinct than they are operationally distinguishable

Abstract

Based on an intuitive generalization of the Leibniz principle of `the identity of indiscernibles', we introduce a novel ontological notion of classicality, called bounded ontological distinctness. Formulated as a principle, bounded ontological distinctness equates the distinguishability of a set of operational physical entities to the distinctness of their ontological counterparts. Employing three instances of two-dimensional quantum preparations, we demonstrate the violation of bounded ontological distinctness or excess ontological distinctness of quantum preparations, without invoking any additional assumptions. Moreover, our methodology enables the inference of tight lower bounds on the extent of excess ontological distinctness of quantum preparations. Similarly, we demonstrate excess ontological distinctness of quantum transformations, using three two-dimensional unitary transformations. However, to demonstrate excess ontological distinctness of quantum measurements, an additional assumption such as outcome determinism or bounded ontological distinctness of preparations is required. Moreover, we show that quantum violations of other well-known ontological principles implicate quantum excess ontological distinctness. Finally, to showcase the operational vitality of excess ontological distinctness, we introduce two distinct classes of communication tasks powered by excess ontological distinctness.

arXiv commentAccepted for publication in Quantum

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• Mutually Unbiased Balanced Functions & Generalized Random Access Codes
• Unbounded quantum advantage in communication complexity measured by distinguishability
• Perfect discrimination of quantum measurements using entangled systems
• Alternative robust ways of witnessing nonclassicality in the simplest scenario
• Information capacity of quantum communication under natural physical assumptions
• Revealing quantum contextuality using a single measurement device
• Single-shot Distinguishability and Anti-distinguishability of Quantum Measurements
• Efficient Computation of Generalized Noncontextual Polytopes and Quantum violation of their Facet Inequalities
• The role of entanglement in energy-restricted communication and randomness generation
• Limitation of maximally entangled probes for single-shot distinguishability of unitaries
• An operational notion of classicality based on physical principles
• Demonstration of quantum correlations that are incompatible with absoluteness of measurement
• Failure of epistemic models to explain the antidistinguishability of quantum mixed preparations
• Quantum inputs in the prepare-and-measure scenario and stochastic teleportation
• Single-shot antidistinguishability of unitary operations
• Quantum description of reality is epistemically incomplete
• Limits of Classical correlations and Quantum advantages under (Anti-)Distinguishability constraints in Multipartite Communication