Quantum Network Simulation and Emulation: A Roadmap for Quantum Internet Design

Abstract

Quantum networks are advancing the information technology infrastructure of society. Simulation and emulation software tools have emerged to support the design, development, and deployment of quantum networks, however, classical simulation and emulation methods have major bottlenecks in the error, latency, and cost that they can achieve at scale. In this work, we review quantum network simulation and emulation tools, including foundational principles, state-of-the-art tools, and bottlenecks. We then discuss how quantum technologies can address these challenges, and we construct a roadmap for the adoption of quantum simulation and emulation tools, emphasizing codesign with quantum network testbeds.

Figures (5)

• Figure 1: (Left) A design cycle in which a quantum networking design question is used to query a software-based design tool, the output data is used to gain insights, leading to development. New problems are encountered and the process iterates. (Right) A depiction of the key components of simulation or emulation tools, their inputs, and associated metrics.
• Figure 2: (Left) The physical layer of a network is emulated on a monolithic compute platform. (Right) An emulated source and detector connect over a real-world classical or quantum physical layer.
• Figure 3: A roadmap for quantum network simulation and emulation tools is shown against a timeline ranging from today's metropolitan QKD networks to the future quantum internet. Three phases of capabilities are shown, prepare and measure networks, entanglement distribution networks, and quantum computing networks. The expected compute platforms for each phase are listed, where quantum hardware will gradually replace classical compute platforms for simulation and emulation of the physical layer. In the long-term, classical compute platforms are expected to support simulation and emulation of classical processes that occur in the control and application layers.
• Figure 4: Hybrid scenario integrating real-world quantum network devices (solid lines) and virtual quantum network devices emulated on quantum processors (dashed lines). The application software layer (yellow) natively runs in both the real-world and virtual environments. Emulated quantum interfaces between real-world (left) and emulated devices (right) are achieved by quantum transduction while emulated classical interfaces are achieved by conventional networking hardware. Quantum hardware (blue) is emulated on quantum processors while classical software (red) is emulated on classical processors.
• Figure 5: Expected applications of quantum network simulation and emulation of (classical/quantum) interfaces on both classical and quantum processors.