Quantum Backbone Networks for Hybrid Quantum Dataframe Transmission

TL;DR

The paper investigates connecting distant quantum subnetworks via a quantum backbone that uses entanglement distribution and quantum teleportation to enable hybrid packetized-entanglement transmission. It proposes an interface to merge packetized networks with an entanglement-based backbone and evaluates performance through simulations incorporating satellite and fiber backbones. Key findings indicate satellite backbones can provide higher entanglement provisioning than fiber under visibility constraints, while a hybrid approach improves robustness and throughput; memory size influences performance with diminishing returns beyond a threshold. The work offers a practical near-term pathway toward a scalable global quantum Internet by leveraging existing satellite infrastructure, while outlining the major technical milestones required for deployment.

Abstract

To realize a global quantum Internet, there is a need for communication between quantum subnetworks. To accomplish this task, there have been multiple design proposals for a quantum backbone network and quantum subnetworks. In this work, we elaborate on the design that uses entanglement and quantum teleportation to build the quantum backbone between packetized quantum networks. We design a network interface to interconnect packetized quantum networks with entanglement-based quantum backbone networks and, moreover, design a scheme to accomplish data transmission over this hybrid quantum network model. We analyze the use of various implementations of the backbone network, focusing our study on backbone networks that use satellite links to continuously distribute entanglement resources. For feasibility, we analyze various system parameters via simulation to benchmark the performance of the overall network.

Figures (4)

• Figure 1: Two packetized networks and a data center are interconnected via an entanglement-based backbone network. The network backbone can be composed of fiber technology or satellite.
• Figure 2: A hybrid quantum network interface design. In (a) is a depiction of the processing of a hybrid frame. The quantum payload is processed in the memory depicted in (b). The memory stores individual entangled qubits marked by $\times$, where some of them may be lost in transmission.
• Figure 3: Received qubits for various satellites overhead and fiber connections between Munich and Nuremberg with an average frame inter-arrival time of $20$ ms between frames.
• Figure 4: Total received qubits in a service time window of $10$ minutes with varying memory.