I'm not sure I agree with the essential cause idea, but I will explain how science defines a cause (which would be an accidental cause)
Classical: state A is a cause future state B if a change in the state of A would result in B being different.
Quantum: state A is a cause of future state B if by changing A, the probability of measuring a state B is changed.
In physics, there is no such thing as an essential cause, unless one claims that the laws of physics themselves are such a thing.
Classical: state A is a cause future state B if a change in the state of A would result in B being different.
Quantum: state A is a cause of future state B if by changing A, the probability of measuring a state B is changed.
In physics, there is no such thing as an essential cause, unless one claims that the laws of physics themselves are such a thing.