Satellite-based Distribution of Hybrid Entanglement

TL;DR

This paper investigates satellite-based distribution of hybrid quantum entanglement between continuous and discrete variables, demonstrating that teleportation using Two-Mode Squeezed Vacuum states outperforms direct distribution under realistic low-earth-orbit loss conditions.

Contribution

It introduces a method for distributing hybrid entanglement via satellite using TMSV states and quantifies the conditions where teleportation surpasses direct distribution.

Findings

Teleportation via TMSV states outperforms direct satellite distribution under low-earth-orbit loss conditions.

DV mode teleportation provides significant advantages over CV mode in hybrid entanglement distribution.

Satellite-based teleportation can reliably distribute hybrid entanglement in heterogeneous quantum networks.

Abstract

Heterogeneous quantum networks consisting of mixed-technologies - Continuous Variable (CV) and Discrete Variable (DV) - will become ubiquitous as global quantum communication matures. Hybrid quantum-entanglement between CV and DV modes will be a critical resource in such networks. A leading candidate for such hybrid quantum entanglement is that between Schr\"odinger-cat states and photon-number states. In this work, we explore the use of Two-Mode Squeezed Vacuum (TMSV) states, distributed from satellites, as a teleportation resource for the re-distribution of our candidate hybrid entanglement pre-stored within terrestrial quantum networks. We determine the loss conditions under which teleportation via the TMSV resource outperforms direct-satellite distribution of the hybrid entanglement, in addition to quantifying the advantage of teleporting the DV mode relative to the CV mode. Our detailed calculations show that under the loss conditions anticipated from Low-Earth-Orbit, DV teleportation via the TMSV resource will always provide for significantly improved outcomes, relative to other means for distributing hybrid entanglement within heterogeneous quantum networks.