A Unifying Framework for Spatial and Temporal Quantum Correlations

TL;DR

This paper introduces a unified theoretical framework for understanding quantum correlations across spatial, temporal, and spatio-temporal domains, demonstrating mappings and exploring resource identification for quantum information processing.

Contribution

It provides a novel unifying theory that links temporal and spatial quantum correlations, including experimental demonstrations and resource analysis.

Findings

Exact mapping between certain temporal and spatial quantum correlations.

Not all spatial states correspond to temporal processes, and vice versa.

Framework enables systematic exploration of multi-point temporal correlations.

Abstract

Measurements on a single quantum system at different times reveal rich non-classical correlations similar to those observed in spatially separated multi-partite systems. Here we introduce a theory framework that unifies the description of temporal, spatial, and spatio-temporal resources for quantum correlations. We identify, and experimentally demonstrate simple cases where an exact mapping between the domains is possible. We then identify correlation resources in arbitrary situations, where not all spatial quantum states correspond to a process and not all temporal measurements have a spatial analogue. These results provide a starting point for the systematic exploration of multi-point temporal correlations as a powerful resource for quantum information processing.