Physics Commons^™

Is There Causation In Fundamental Physics? New Insights From Process Matrices And Quantum Causal Modelling, Emily Adlam

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

In this article we set out to understand the significance of the process matrix formalism and the quantum causal modelling programme for ongoing disputes about the role of causation in fundamental physics. We argue that the process matrix programme has correctly identified a notion of ‘causal order’ which plays an important role in fundamental physics, but this notion is weaker than the common-sense conception of causation because it does not involve asymmetry. We argue that causal order plays an important role in grounding more familiar causal phenomena. Then we apply these conclusions to the causal modelling programme within quantum foundations, …