Performance of Quantum Networks Using Heterogeneous Link Architectures

TL;DR

This paper investigates the performance of heterogeneous quantum network links with different photon flow architectures, optimizing protocols and demonstrating that such networks can perform comparably to homogeneous ones, informing scalable quantum internet design.

Contribution

It introduces an optimized photon pair protocol considering pulse rate effects and demonstrates the viability of heterogeneous quantum networks using simulations.

Findings

Heterogeneous quantum links can achieve performance comparable to homogeneous links.

Increasing pulse rate may decrease overall performance.

Network performance depends heavily on link configuration.

Abstract

The heterogeneity of quantum link architectures is an essential theme in designing quantum networks for technological interoperability and possibly performance optimization. However, the performance of heterogeneously connected quantum links has not yet been addressed. Here, we investigate the integration of two inherently different technologies, with one link where the photons flow from the nodes toward a device in the middle of the link, and a different link where pairs of photons flow from a device in the middle towards the nodes. We utilize the quantum internet simulator QuISP to conduct simulations. We first optimize the existing photon pair protocol for a single link by taking the pulse rate into account. Here, we find that increasing the pulse rate can actually decrease the overall performance. Using our optimized links, we demonstrate that heterogeneous networks actually work. Their performance is highly dependent on link configuration, but we observe no significant decrease in generation rate compared to homogeneous networks. This work provides insights into the phenomena we likely will observe when introducing technological heterogeneity into quantum networks, which is crucial for creating a scalable and robust quantum internetwork.