Statistical properties of the quantum internet

TL;DR

This paper models a quantum internet using optical fiber networks, applying network theory to reveal a phase transition and properties like small average distances despite lacking small-world features.

Contribution

It introduces a novel model for quantum internet networks and analyzes their statistical properties, including phase transition behavior and connectivity features.

Findings

Identifies a continuous phase transition in network connectivity.

Networks lack small-world property but have small average distances.

Predicts critical exponents for the phase transition.

Abstract

Steady technological advances are paving the way for the implementation of the quantum internet, a network of locations interconnected by quantum channels. Here we propose a model to simulate a quantum internet based on optical fibers and employ network-theory techniques to characterize the statistical properties of the photonic networks it generates. Our model predicts a continuous phase transition between a disconnected and a highly-connected phase characterized by the computation of critical exponents. Moreover we show that, although the networks do not present the small world property, the average distance between nodes is typically small.