Higher-Order Quantum Operations
Abstract
An operational description of quantum phenomena concerns developing models that describe experimentally observed behaviour. Higher-order quantum operationsx2014quantum operations that transform quantum operationsx2014are fundamental to modern quantum theory, extending beyond basic state preparations, evolutions, and measurements described by the Born rule. These operations naturally emerge in quantum circuit architectures, correlated open dynamics, and investigations of quantum causality, to name but a few fields of application. This Review Article provides both a pedagogical introduction to the framework of higher-order quantum operations and a comprehensive survey of current literature, illustrated through physical examples. We conclude by identifying open problems and future research directions in this rapidly evolving field.
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