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Related papers: A categorical semantics for causal structure

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We give a category-theoretic treatment of causal models that formalizes the syntax for causal reasoning over a directed acyclic graph (DAG) by associating a free Markov category with the DAG in a canonical way. This framework enables us to…

Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science 2022-04-12 Yimu Yin , Jiji Zhang

It has been shown that it is theoretically possible for there to exist higher-order quantum processes in which the operations performed by separate parties cannot be ascribed a definite causal order. Some of these processes are believed to…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2019-12-04 Ognyan Oreshkov

The Causaloid framework is an operational approach aimed to house both the radical aspects of General Relativity -- dynamic causal structure, and Quantum Theory -- indefiniteness, to provide a scaffolding that might be suitable for Quantum…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2024-07-02 Nitica Sakharwade , Lucien Hardy

In recent years, various frameworks have been proposed for the study of quantum processes with indefinite causal order. In particular, quantum circuits with quantum control of causal order (QC-QCs) form a broad class of physical supermaps…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2025-07-14 Maarten Grothus , Alastair A. Abbott , Augustin Vanrietvelde , Cyril Branciard

Three distinct phenomena complicate statistical causal analysis: latent common causes, causal cycles, and latent selection. Foundational works on Structural Causal Models (SCMs), e.g., Bongers et al. (2021, Ann. Stat., 49(5): 2885-2915),…

Methodology · Statistics 2025-11-23 Leihao Chen , Onno Zoeter , Joris M. Mooij

The identification of causal relations is a cornerstone of the scientific method. Traditional approaches to this task are based on classical statistics. However, such classical approaches do not apply in the quantum domain, where a broader…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2022-09-26 Giulio Chiribella , Swati

Neurally-parameterized Structural Causal Models in the Pearlian notion to causality, referred to as NCM, were recently introduced as a step towards next-generation learning systems. However, said NCM are only concerned with the learning…

Machine Learning · Computer Science 2022-12-27 Matej Zečević , Devendra Singh Dhami , Kristian Kersting

We show a method of describing processes with indefinite causal order (ICO) by a definite causal order. We do so by relabeling the processes that take place in the circuit in accordance with the basis of measurement of control qubit. Causal…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2022-03-04 Stanislav Filatov , Marcis Auzinsh

Structural causal models are the basic modelling unit in Pearl's causal theory; in principle they allow us to solve counterfactuals, which are at the top rung of the ladder of causation. But they often contain latent variables that limit…

Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science 2021-11-23 Marco Zaffalon , Alessandro Antonucci , Rafael Cabañas

Standard methods of using categorical variables as predictors either endow them with an ordinal structure or assume they have no structure at all. However, categorical variables often possess structure that is more complicated than a linear…

Machine Learning · Statistics 2020-04-17 Brian Lucena

Much of our experiments are designed to uncover the cause(s) and effect(s) behind a data generating mechanism (i.e., phenomenon) we happen to be interested in. Uncovering such relationships allows us to identify the true working of a…

Machine Learning · Computer Science 2023-07-11 M. Z. Naser

The concept of causal nonseparability has been recently introduced, in opposition to that of causal separability, to qualify physical processes that locally abide by the laws of quantum theory, but cannot be embedded in a well-defined…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2019-02-04 Julian Wechs , Alastair A. Abbott , Cyril Branciard

One of the key ways in which quantum mechanics differs from relativity is that it requires a fixed background reference frame for spacetime. In fact, this appears to be one of the main conceptual obstacles to uniting the two theories.…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2022-11-30 Lachlan Parker , Fabio Costa

Process theories provide a powerful framework for describing compositional structures across diverse fields, from quantum mechanics to computational linguistics. Traditionally, they have been formalized using symmetric monoidal categories…

Category Theory · Mathematics 2025-05-12 John H. Selby , Maria E. Stasinou , Matt Wilson , Bob Coecke

Causal inference is a central goal across many scientific disciplines. Over the past several decades, three major frameworks have emerged to formalize causal questions and guide their analysis: the potential outcomes framework, structural…

Statistics Theory · Mathematics 2026-02-12 Linbo Wang , Thomas Richardson , James Robins

The quantum process framework is devised as a generalization of quantum theory to incorporate indefinite causal structure. In this short paper we point out a restriction in forming products of processes: there exist both classical and…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2018-03-21 Ding Jia , Nitica Sakharwade

Intervention theories of causality define a relationship as causal if appropriately specified interventions to manipulate a putative cause tend to produce changes in the putative effect. Interventionist causal theories are commonly…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2007-10-08 Kathryn B. Laskey

A 'process theory' is any theory of systems and processes which admits sequential and parallel composition. `Terminality' unifies normalisation of pure states, trace-preservation of CP-maps, and adding up to identity of positive operators…

Quantum Physics · Physics 2014-12-31 Bob Coecke

Discovering causal relations from observational time series without making the stationary assumption is a significant challenge. In practice, this challenge is common in many areas, such as retail sales, transportation systems, and medical…

Machine Learning · Computer Science 2024-07-11 Shanyun Gao , Raghavendra Addanki , Tong Yu , Ryan A. Rossi , Murat Kocaoglu

Causality is a fundamental part of the scientific endeavour to understand the world. Unfortunately, causality is still taboo in much of psychology and social science. Motivated by a growing number of recommendations for the importance of…

Methodology · Statistics 2022-06-27 Matthew J. Vowels