Quantum Advantage from Sequential-Transformation Contextuality

Shane Mansfield and Elham Kashefi

Journal
Physical Review Letters
Abstract

We introduce a notion of contextuality for transformations in sequential contexts, distinct from the Bell-Kochen-Specker and Spekkens notions of contextuality. Within a transformation-based model for quantum computation we show that strong sequential-transformation contextuality is necessary and sufficient for deterministic computation of nonlinear functions if classical components are restricted to mod2 linearity and matching constraints apply to any underlying ontology. For probabilistic computation, sequential-transformation contextuality is necessary and sufficient for advantage in this task and the degree of advantage quantifiably relates to the degree of contextuality.