Quantum mechanics

Theoretical physics

Discrete mathematics

Theoretical computer science

Bipartite graph

Quantum process

Constraint (computer-aided design)

Computer science

Statistical physics

Quantum probability

Physics

Graph

Quantum dynamics

Mathematics

Artificial intelligence

Geometry

Quantum

Qubit

Class (philosophy)

Physical Review Letters

We investigate the class of physical theories with the same local structure as quantum theory but potentially different global structure. It has previously been shown that any bipartite correlations generated by such a theory can be simulated in quantum theory but that this does not hold for tripartite correlations. Here we explore whether imposing an additional constraint on this space of theories-that of dynamical reversibility-will allow us to recover the global quantum structure. In the particular case in which the local systems are identical qubits, we show that any theory admitting at least one continuous reversible interaction must be identical to quantum theory.

Deriving Quantum Theory from Its Local Structure and Reversibility