Statistical properties and repetition rates for a quantum network with geographical distribution of nodes

TL;DR

This paper models a realistic quantum network with geographically distributed nodes based on Brazilian demographic data, analyzing its statistical properties and calculating entanglement swapping repetition rates for quantum communication.

Contribution

It introduces a model incorporating non-uniform node distribution based on demographic data, extending previous uniform models of quantum networks.

Findings

Statistical properties of the geographically distributed network are characterized.

Comparison shows differences between realistic and previous models.

Repetition rates for entanglement swapping are computed for the new network model.

Abstract

Steady technological advances and recent milestones such as intercontinental quantum communication and the first implementation of medium-scale quantum networks are paving the way for the establishment of the quantum internet, a network of nodes interconnected by quantum channels. Here we build upon recent models for quantum networks based on optical fibers by considering the effect of a non-uniform distribution of nodes, more specifically based on the demographic data of the federal states in Brazil. We not only compute the statistical properties of this more realistic network, comparing its features with previous models but also employ it to compute the repetition rates for entanglement swapping, an essential protocol for quantum communication based on quantum repeaters.