Deep reinforcement learning for key distribution based on quantum repeaters

Abstract

This work examines secret key rates of key distribution based on quantum repeaters in a broad parameter space of the communication distance and coherence time of the quantum memories. As the first step in this task, a Markov decision process modeling the distribution of entangled quantum states via quantum repeaters is developed. Based on this model, a simulation is implemented, which is employed to determine secret key rates under naively controlled, limited memory storage times for a wide range of parameters. The complexity of the quantum state evolution in a multiple-segment quantum repeater chain motivates the use of deep reinforcement learning to search for optimal solutions for the memory storage time limits - the so-called memory cut-offs. The novel contribution in this work is to explore very general cut-off strategies which dynamically adapt to the state of the quantum repeater. An implementation of this approach is presented, with a particular focus on four-segment quantum repeaters, achieving proof of concept of its validity by finding exemplary solutions that outperform the naive strategies.

24 pages, 12 figures, 4 tables. Comments are welcome

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• Fast and reliable entanglement distribution with quantum repeaters: principles for improving protocols using reinforcement learning
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• On noise in swap ASAP repeater chains: exact analytics, distributions and tight approximations
• Research progress of artificial intelligence empowered quantum communication and quantum sensing systems
• Optimising entanglement distribution policies under classical communication constraints assisted by reinforcement learning
• A resource- and computationally-efficient protocol for multipartite entanglement distribution in Bell-pair networks