Postquantum steering in scenarios with multiple characterised parties

Abstract

The study of stronger-than-quantum phenomena (i.e., postquantum) has enabled a deeper understanding of the scope of quantum theory. Much is known about the case of correlations in Bell scenarios, where the device-independent framework allowed us to explore its possibilities independently of the formalism of quantum theory. However, less is known about the phenomenon of Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering. Here, the `characterised parties' are assumed to describe their systems locally through the quantum formalism, which inconveniences a theory-independent description. In addition, a theorem by Gisin and Hughston, Josza and Wootters further hindered the discovery of the phenomenon. The study of postquantum steering, initiated about a decade ago, has been quite fruitful, including: the development of mathematical formalisms that frame the effect, resource theories that quantify it as a resource, and activation protocols that relate it to Bell correlations. However, all these results have a limitation in common: they apply to scenarios with only one quantum party. Here we articulate the concept of postquantum steering for scenarios with multiple quantum parties, bringing in the missing piece to the puzzle. We provide an algorithm to certify postquantumness, which in some cases also certifies quantumness. We also define a hierarchy of semidefinite programs that bounds the set of quantum assemblages from the outside. Moreover, we show that the study of postquantum steering is fundamentally relevant since it is not just a mere mathematical curiosity allowed by the no-signalling principle, but it may arise within compositional theories beyond quantum theory. Our work further discovers a peculiarity of steering: its theory-independent description fundamentally prevents a direct connection with Bell nonlocality -- e.g., nonclassical Bell correlations do not imply nonclassical steering.