A P4 Data Plane for the Quantum Internet

TL;DR

This paper explores the design of a programmable quantum data plane using P4$_{16}$ to enable flexible, software-defined quantum network architectures, addressing the unique properties of quantum entanglement.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of a P4-based quantum data plane and demonstrates how to implement abstractions and device architectures for quantum networks.

Findings

Proposes a P4$_{16}$ framework for quantum networks

Shows potential for flexible quantum network architectures

Lays groundwork for programmable quantum network devices

Abstract

The quantum technology revolution brings with it the promise of a quantum internet. A new -- quantum -- network stack will be needed to account for the fundamentally new properties of quantum entanglement. The first realisations of quantum networks are imminent and research interest in quantum network protocols has started growing. In the non-quantum world, programmable data planes have broken the pattern of ossification of the protocol stack and enabled a new -- software-defined -- network software architecture. Similarly, a programmable quantum data plane could pave the way for a software-defined quantum network architecture. In this paper, we demonstrate how we use P4$_{16}$ to explore abstractions and device architectures for quantum networks.