Programmable Multi-Node Quantum Network Design and Simulation

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how software-defined networking principles, specifically OpenFlow, can be used to control and simulate multi-node quantum networks managing quantum metadata for protocols like teleportation and superdense coding.

Contribution

It introduces a novel framework for simulating programmable multi-node quantum networks using OpenFlow to manage quantum metadata and control quantum switches.

Findings

OpenFlow can effectively manage quantum metadata.

Quantum switch programmability demonstrated via simulation.

Framework supports protocols like teleportation and superdense coding.

Abstract

Software-defined networking offers a device-agnostic programmable framework to encode new network functions. Externally centralized control plane intelligence allows programmers to write network applications and to build functional network designs. OpenFlow is a key protocol widely adopted to build programmable networks because of its programmability, flexibility and ability to interconnect heterogeneous network devices. We simulate the functional topology of a multi-node quantum network that uses programmable network principles to manage quantum metadata for protocols such as teleportation, superdense coding, and quantum key distribution. We first show how the OpenFlow protocol can manage the quantum metadata needed to control the quantum channel. We then use numerical simulation to demonstrate robust programmability of a quantum switch via the OpenFlow network controller while executing an application of superdense coding. We describe the software framework implemented to carry out these simulations and we discuss near-term efforts to realize these applications.