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    Noncommutativity as a Universal Characterization for Enhanced Quantum Metrology

    Ningxin Kong1, Haojie Wang1,2, Mingsheng Tian1,*, Yilun Xu1, Geng Chen3, Yu Xiang4,†, and Qiongyi He1,2,5,‡

    • 1State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, & Collaborative Innovation Center of Quantum Matter, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
    • 2Hefei National Laboratory, Hefei 230088, China
    • 3Laboratory of Quantum Information, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
    • 4Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Nonequilibrium Synthesis and Modulation of Condensed Matter, Shaanxi Province Key Laboratory of Quantum Information and Quantum Optoelectronic Devices, School of Physics, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
    • 5Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030006, China

    • *Present address: Department of Physics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.
    • †Contact author: xiangy@xjtu.edu.cn
    • ‡Contact author: qiongyihe@pku.edu.cn

    Phys. Rev. Lett. 136, 010201 – Published 6 January, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/3jlc-lb5c

    Abstract

    A central challenge in quantum metrology is to effectively harness quantum resources to surpass classical precision bounds. Although recent studies suggest that the indefinite causal order may enable sensitivities to attain the super-Heisenberg scaling, the physical origins of such enhancements remain elusive. Here, we introduce the nilpotency index K, which quantifies the depth of noncommutativity between operators during the encoding process, can act as a fundamental parameter governing quantum-enhanced sensing. We show that a finite K yields an enhanced scaling of root-mean-square error as N−(1+K). Meanwhile, the requirement for indefinite causal order arises only when the nested commutators become constant. Remarkably, in the limit K→∞, exponential precision scaling N−1e−N is achievable. We propose experimentally feasible protocols implementing these mechanisms, providing a systematic pathway towards practical quantum-enhanced metrology.

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