High-dimensional quantum systems greatly outperform their two-dimensional counterparts in channel capacity, quantum complexity and efficiency, quantum communication security, etc. Bell-state analyzer (BSA) is a crucial prerequisite for a number of quantum communication protocols. We propose an approach for completely and deterministically distinguishing a set of arbitrary
d-dimensional (
d≥3) Bell states via indefinite causal order (ICO). In previous schemes, bit and phase information are discriminated in succession. Exploiting the gravitational ICO as the sole resource, we propose some high-dimensional BSA schemes. Independent of the dimensions, a set of generalized Bell states are completely and deterministically discriminated by adjusting the form of the embedded local single-qudit gates within ICO switch and measuring each qudit in the
{∣0⟩,∣1⟩,⋯,∣d−1⟩} basis. Notably, in our high-dimensional BSA process, the indefinite causal structure is not consumed. Hence a completely nondestructive high-dimensional BSA can be achieved by iterating the indefinite causal structure process for two rounds.
This paper further explores the recent scheme of switched quantum channels with indefinite causal order applied to the reference metrological task of quantum phase estimation in the presence of noise. We especially extend the explorations, previously reported with depolarizing noise and thermal noise, to the class of Pauli noises, important to the qubit and not previously addressed. Nonstandard capabilities, not accessible with standard quantum phase estimation, are exhibited and analyzed, with significant properties that are specific to the Pauli noises, while other properties are found in common with the depolarizing noise or the thermal noise. The results show that the presence and the type of quantum noise are both crucial to the determination of the nonstandard capabilities from the switched channel with indefinite causal order, with a constructive action of noise reminiscent of stochastic resonance phenomena. The study contributes to a more comprehensive and systematic characterization of the roles and specificities of quantum noise in the operation of the novel devices of switched quantum channels with indefinite causal order.
Indefinite causal order (ICO), in which the order of quantum operations is placed in a coherent superposition, has been demonstrated to enhance various information-processing tasks. Here, we investigate its impact on the thermodynamic processes generated by thermalizing quantum channels. We consider a two-level system interacting with two thermal baths under a quantum SWITCH, with the channel order controlled coherently by an ancillary qubit. We derive closed-form expressions for the effective inverse temperature
βf of the postselected system state for both identical and distinct bath temperatures, and identify the control-qubit parameters that maximize heating or cooling. Our analysis reveals how the diagonal and coherent components of the control-qubit state contribute separately to the temperature shift, and how their interplay enables departures from the thermal response attainable under protocols with a definite causal order within the thermodynamic setting considered here. Bath asymmetry enhances these effects, while reduced purity of the control qubit state suppresses them. These results provide a systematic framework for assessing SWITCH-based thermalization in the setting of indefinite causal order, and identify control-qubit coherence as a tunable resource.