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Scalable Time-Tagged Data Acquisition for Entanglement Distribution in Quantum Networks

Abderrahim Amlou, Thomas Gerrits, Anouar Rahmouni, Amar Abane, Mheni Merzouki, Ya-Shian Li-Baboud, Ahmed Lbath, Abdella Battou, Oliver Slattery

TL;DR

The paper introduces a modular Time Tagging (TT) agent that leverages White Rabbit 1 PPS synchronization to deliver real-time, calibrated, and compressed time-tagged data for entanglement distribution in quantum networks. By implementing per-second processing, relative timestamping to prevent overflow, and Blosc compression, the approach demonstrates scalable data handling while maintaining event-level synchronization across distant nodes. In a live two-lab experiment, the system achieves real-time coincidence analysis with approximately 25,000 coincidences per second and a substantial 73.5% reduction in per-tag storage, validating practicality for long-term, high-rate quantum network operations. The work highlights a clear pathway toward scalable quantum network instrumentation via a measurement-plane-enabled, decentralized TT framework, with potential improvements from tighter clock discipline and multi-node expansion.

Abstract

In distributed quantum applications such as entanglement distribution, precise time synchronization and efficient time-tagged data handling are essential. Traditional systems often suffer from overflow, synchronization drift, and storage inefficiencies. We propose a modular Time Tagging (TT) agent that uses a 1 pulse per second (PPS) signal from White Rabbit (WR) devices to achieve network-wide synchronization, while applying real-time calibration, overflow mitigation, and compression. A live two-lab entanglement distribution experiment validated the system's performance, achieving synchronized coincidence detection at 25,000 counts/sec.

Scalable Time-Tagged Data Acquisition for Entanglement Distribution in Quantum Networks

TL;DR

The paper introduces a modular Time Tagging (TT) agent that leverages White Rabbit 1 PPS synchronization to deliver real-time, calibrated, and compressed time-tagged data for entanglement distribution in quantum networks. By implementing per-second processing, relative timestamping to prevent overflow, and Blosc compression, the approach demonstrates scalable data handling while maintaining event-level synchronization across distant nodes. In a live two-lab experiment, the system achieves real-time coincidence analysis with approximately 25,000 coincidences per second and a substantial 73.5% reduction in per-tag storage, validating practicality for long-term, high-rate quantum network operations. The work highlights a clear pathway toward scalable quantum network instrumentation via a measurement-plane-enabled, decentralized TT framework, with potential improvements from tighter clock discipline and multi-node expansion.

Abstract

In distributed quantum applications such as entanglement distribution, precise time synchronization and efficient time-tagged data handling are essential. Traditional systems often suffer from overflow, synchronization drift, and storage inefficiencies. We propose a modular Time Tagging (TT) agent that uses a 1 pulse per second (PPS) signal from White Rabbit (WR) devices to achieve network-wide synchronization, while applying real-time calibration, overflow mitigation, and compression. A live two-lab entanglement distribution experiment validated the system's performance, achieving synchronized coincidence detection at 25,000 counts/sec.
Paper Structure (21 sections, 3 equations, 8 figures)

This paper contains 21 sections, 3 equations, 8 figures.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Background
  3. Synchronization Challenges
  4. Overflow Issues
  5. Clock Drift and Calibration Requirements
  6. Data Handling Inefficiencies
  7. Proposed Approach
  8. System Architecture
  9. Key Components and Functionalities
  10. Synchronization
  11. Overflow Mitigation
  12. Calibration
  13. Data Preparation and Compression
  14. Prototype Implementation and Workflow:
  15. Evaluation and Results
  16. ...and 6 more sections

Figures (8)

  • Figure 1: The SPDC source generates entangled photon pairs sent to Alice and Bob, where each detector is connected to a time tagger that records photon arrivals for later analysis.
  • Figure 2: System Architecture of the Distributed Time Tagging Setup.
  • Figure 3: Heatmap of representation requirements for relative time stamping assuming minimum resolution of 1 ps.
  • Figure 4: Real Time Data Processing Workflow.
  • Figure 5: Experimental Setup.
  • ...and 3 more figures