{"id":"https://openalex.org/W7202213864","doi":"https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21892856","title":"Pruned Histories and the Computational Multiverse: What Does Quantum Speedup Ontologically Require?","display_name":"Pruned Histories and the Computational Multiverse: What Does Quantum Speedup Ontologically Require?","publication_year":2026,"publication_date":"2026-08-11","ids":{"openalex":"https://openalex.org/W7202213864","doi":"https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21892856"},"language":"en","primary_location":{"id":"doi:10.5281/zenodo.21892856","doi":"https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21892856","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21892856","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400562","display_name":"Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I67311998","host_organization_name":"European Organization for Nuclear Research","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I67311998"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"JournalArticle"},"volume":null,"type":"article","is_traditional":true,"indexed_in":["datacite"],"open_access":{"is_oa":true,"oa_status":"green","oa_url":"https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21892856","any_repository_has_fulltext":true},"authorships":[{"author_position":"first","author":{"id":"https://openalex.org/A5133406294","display_name":"Ian Staley","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8592-3186","observed_orcids":["https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8592-3186"]},"institutions":[],"countries":[],"is_corresponding":true,"raw_author_name":"Staley, Ian","raw_affiliation_strings":[],"raw_orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0000-8592-3186","affiliations":[]}],"institutions":[],"countries_distinct_count":0,"institutions_distinct_count":0,"corresponding_author_ids":["https://openalex.org/A5133406294"],"corresponding_institution_ids":[],"apc_list":null,"apc_paid":null,"fwci":0.0,"has_fulltext":false,"cited_by_count":0,"citation_normalized_percentile":{"value":0.0,"is_in_top_1_percent":false,"is_in_top_10_percent":false},"cited_by_percentile_year":null,"biblio":{"volume":null,"issue":null,"first_page":null,"last_page":null},"is_retracted":false,"is_paratext":false,"is_xpac":false,"primary_topic":{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10622","display_name":"Quantum Mechanics and Applications","score":0.9785000085830688,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3107","display_name":"Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/31","display_name":"Physics and Astronomy"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},"topics":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10622","display_name":"Quantum Mechanics and Applications","score":0.9785000085830688,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3107","display_name":"Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/31","display_name":"Physics and Astronomy"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10682","display_name":"Quantum Computing Algorithms and Architecture","score":0.015399999916553497,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/1702","display_name":"Artificial Intelligence"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/17","display_name":"Computer Science"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}},{"id":"https://openalex.org/T10020","display_name":"Quantum Information and Cryptography","score":0.0013000000035390258,"subfield":{"id":"https://openalex.org/subfields/3107","display_name":"Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics"},"field":{"id":"https://openalex.org/fields/31","display_name":"Physics and Astronomy"},"domain":{"id":"https://openalex.org/domains/3","display_name":"Physical Sciences"}}],"keywords":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/quantum-advantage","display_name":"quantum advantage","score":0.6010000109672546},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/many-worlds-interpretation","display_name":"many-worlds interpretation","score":0.7590000033378601},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/decoherence","display_name":"decoherence","score":0.6209999918937683},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/ontological-commitment","display_name":"ontological commitment","score":0.6489999890327454},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/entanglement","display_name":"entanglement","score":0.6819999814033508},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/observer-dependence","display_name":"observer dependence","score":0.49900001287460327},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/ontology-model","display_name":"ontological model","score":0.6420000195503235},{"id":"https://openalex.org/keywords/shor-s-algorithm","display_name":"Shor's algorithm","score":0.7599999904632568}],"concepts":[{"id":"https://openalex.org/C68339613","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1549489","display_name":"Speedup","level":2,"score":0.7696999907493591},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C98184364","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1780131","display_name":"Argument (complex analysis)","level":2,"score":0.6603999733924866},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C41008148","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21198","display_name":"Computer science","level":0,"score":0.620199978351593},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C45374587","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12525525","display_name":"Computation","level":2,"score":0.593500018119812},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C67820243","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q179164","display_name":"Unitary state","level":2,"score":0.5827999711036682},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C121040770","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q215675","display_name":"Quantum entanglement","level":3,"score":0.5706999897956848},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C84114770","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q46344","display_name":"Quantum","level":2,"score":0.501800000667572},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C179799912","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q205084","display_name":"Computational complexity theory","level":2,"score":0.4984999895095825},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C58053490","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q176555","display_name":"Quantum computer","level":3,"score":0.4869000017642975},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C80444323","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2878974","display_name":"Theoretical computer science","level":1,"score":0.46369999647140503},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C62354387","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q875399","display_name":"Boundary (topology)","level":2,"score":0.43849998712539673},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C108010975","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q500094","display_name":"Pruning","level":2,"score":0.42309999465942383},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C66024118","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1122506","display_name":"Computational model","level":2,"score":0.4147999882698059},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C25810664","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q44325","display_name":"Ontology","level":2,"score":0.41339999437332153},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2778572836","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q380933","display_name":"Space (punctuation)","level":2,"score":0.39410001039505005},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C81917197","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q628760","display_name":"Selection (genetic algorithm)","level":2,"score":0.38580000400543213},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C111472728","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q9471","display_name":"Epistemology","level":1,"score":0.35269999504089355},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2908647359","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2625603","display_name":"Population","level":2,"score":0.3328999876976013},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C2776235265","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q18392052","display_name":"Fragment (logic)","level":2,"score":0.3287000060081482},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C33676613","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q13415176","display_name":"Dimension (graph theory)","level":2,"score":0.3246999979019165},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C33923547","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q395","display_name":"Mathematics","level":0,"score":0.3239000141620636},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C19754495","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3435924","display_name":"Computational problem","level":2,"score":0.31679999828338623},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C11413529","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q8366","display_name":"Algorithm","level":1,"score":0.31139999628067017},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C177264268","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1514741","display_name":"Set (abstract data type)","level":2,"score":0.29170000553131104},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C130187892","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q133327","display_name":"Spacetime","level":2,"score":0.26930001378059387},{"id":"https://openalex.org/C151376022","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q168698","display_name":"Exponential function","level":2,"score":0.2531000077724457}],"mesh":[],"locations_count":2,"locations":[{"id":"doi:10.5281/zenodo.21892856","doi":"https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21892856","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21892856","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400562","display_name":"Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I67311998","host_organization_name":"European Organization for Nuclear Research","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I67311998"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"JournalArticle"},{"id":"doi:10.5281/zenodo.21892857","doi":"https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21892857","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21892857","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400562","display_name":"Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I67311998","host_organization_name":"European Organization for Nuclear Research","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I67311998"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"JournalArticle"}],"best_oa_location":{"id":"doi:10.5281/zenodo.21892856","doi":"https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21892856","is_oa":true,"landing_page_url":"https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21892856","pdf_url":null,"source":{"id":"https://openalex.org/S4306400562","display_name":"Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)","issn_l":null,"issn":null,"is_oa":true,"is_in_doaj":false,"is_core":false,"listed_in":[],"host_organization":"https://openalex.org/I67311998","host_organization_name":"European Organization for Nuclear Research","host_organization_lineage":["https://openalex.org/I67311998"],"host_organization_lineage_names":[],"type":"repository"},"license":"cc-by","license_id":"https://openalex.org/licenses/cc-by","version":null,"is_accepted":false,"is_published":false,"raw_source_name":null,"raw_type":"JournalArticle"},"sustainable_development_goals":[],"study_designs":[],"awards":[],"funders":[],"has_content":{"grobid_xml":false,"pdf":false},"content_urls":null,"referenced_works_count":0,"referenced_works":[],"related_works":["https://openalex.org/W2044848114","https://openalex.org/W7154699263","https://openalex.org/W7162085880","https://openalex.org/W7115986168","https://openalex.org/W1993401583","https://openalex.org/W7153640404","https://openalex.org/W2486972343","https://openalex.org/W7208829945","https://openalex.org/W1639079214","https://openalex.org/W1727896655"],"abstract_inverted_index":{"Deutsch's":[0,65],"influential":[1],"argument":[2,67,114],"holds":[3],"that":[4,31,64,84,189],"the":[5,26,50,95,102,110,161,190],"exponential":[6],"speedup":[7,140],"of":[8,25,52,97,105,138,153,183],"quantum":[9,45,106],"algorithms":[10],"such":[11],"as":[12,79],"Shor's":[13],"is":[14,196],"best":[15],"explained":[16],"by":[17,33],"computation":[18,107,131],"distributed":[19],"across":[20],"ontologically":[21,98],"real":[22],"parallel":[23,154],"branches":[24,77],"wavefunction.":[27],"This":[28],"paper":[29],"interrogates":[30],"claim":[32],"asking":[34],"what":[35],"minimal":[36],"ontological":[37,123,162],"commitments":[38],"are":[39],"actually":[40],"required":[41],"to":[42],"underwrite":[43],"observed":[44],"computational":[46,66,80,139,184],"advantages.":[47],"Drawing":[48],"on":[49,69],"framework":[51,164],"final-state":[53],"constraints":[54],"and":[55,132,134,146,165,173],"informational":[56],"pruning":[57],"developed":[58],"in":[59,74,142,150],"prior":[60],"work,":[61],"we":[62],"argue":[63],"depends":[68],"an":[70],"unpruned":[71],"Everettian":[72],"ontology":[73],"which":[75,87],"all":[76],"persist":[78],"substrates.":[81],"We":[82,156,187],"show":[83],"pruned-histories":[85],"interpretations\u2014in":[86],"boundary":[88,128],"conditions":[89],"or":[90],"decoherence-based":[91],"selection":[92],"mechanisms":[93],"restrict":[94],"space":[96],"realized":[99],"branches\u2014can":[100],"preserve":[101],"empirical":[103],"predictions":[104],"while":[108,193],"denying":[109],"parallel-universes":[111],"inference.":[112],"The":[113],"requires":[115],"three":[116],"positive":[117,136],"commitments:":[118],"a":[119,125,135,151],"records-based":[120],"criterion":[121],"for":[122],"commitment,":[124],"thermodynamically":[126],"graded":[127],"between":[129],"unitary":[130],"outcome-stabilization,":[133],"account":[137],"grounded":[141],"global":[143],"Hilbert-space":[144],"structure":[145],"entanglement":[147],"rather":[148,198],"than":[149,199],"population":[152],"worlds.":[155],"situate":[157],"this":[158],"result":[159],"within":[160],"models":[163],"recent":[166],"observer-dependence":[167],"theorems\u2014including":[168],"Frauchiger-Renner,":[169],"Bong":[170],"et":[171,175],"al.,":[172],"Walleghem":[174],"al.\u2014and":[176],"engage":[177],"directly":[178],"with":[179],"Hewitt-Horsman's":[180],"functionalist":[181],"defense":[182],"branch":[185],"realism.":[186],"conclude":[188],"Deutsch":[191],"argument,":[192],"rhetorically":[194],"powerful,":[195],"interpretation-laden":[197],"interpretation-neutral.":[200]},"counts_by_year":[],"updated_date":"2026-10-28T10:33:24.094632","created_date":"2026-08-12T00:00:00"}