Performance metrics for the continuous distribution of entanglement in multi-user quantum networks

Abstract

Entangled states shared among distant nodes are frequently used in quantum network applications. When quantum resources are abundant, entangled states can be continuously distributed across the network, allowing nodes to consume them whenever necessary. This continuous distribution of entanglement enables quantum network applications to operate continuously while being regularly supplied with entangled states. Here, we focus on the steady-state performance analysis of protocols for continuous distribution of entanglement. We propose the virtual neighborhood size and the virtual node degree as performance metrics. We utilize the concept of Pareto optimality to formulate a multi-objective optimization problem to maximize the performance. As an example, we solve the problem for a quantum network with a tree topology. One of the main conclusions from our analysis is that the entanglement consumption rate has a greater impact on the protocol performance than the fidelity requirements. The metrics that we establish in this manuscript can be utilized to assess the feasibility of entanglement distribution protocols for large-scale quantum networks.

9 pages with 7 figures (main text); 13 pages appendix with 7 figures. v2: minor improvements to readability, corrected typos

References in corpus (12)

• Free-Space distribution of entanglement and single photons over 144 km
• Realization of a multi-node quantum network of remote solid-state qubits
• High-fidelity preparation, gates, memory and readout of a trapped-ion quantum bit
• Entanglement purification and quantum error correction
• Multiplexed Memory-Insensitive Quantum Repeaters
• 3/4-efficient Bell measurement with passive linear optics and unentangled ancillae
• Brokered Graph State Quantum Computing
• On the role of memory errors in quantum repeaters
• Optimal entanglement distribution policies in homogeneous repeater chains with cutoffs
• Entangling remote qubits using the single-photon protocol: an in-depth theoretical and experimental study
• Satellite-based photonic quantum networks are small-world
• Limited path entanglement percolation in quantum complex networks

Cited by in corpus (10)

• No-Go Theorems for Universal Entanglement Purification
• Reducing classical communication costs in multiplexed quantum repeaters using hardware-aware quasi-local policies
• Entanglement buffering with two quantum memories
• Simulation of fidelity in entanglement-based networks with repeater chains
• Analytical Performance Estimations for Quantum Repeater Network Scenarios
• Continuously Distributing Entanglement in Quantum Networks with Regular Topologies
• Surrogate-guided optimization in quantum networks
• Quantum Advantage in Distributed Sensing with Noisy Quantum Networks
• Optimal Interpolation of Entanglement Purification Protocols
• Robust entanglement buffers based on SWAP interactions