Simulation of fidelity in entanglement-based networks with repeater chains

TL;DR

This paper presents a specialized simulation environment for estimating end-to-end fidelity in quantum networks with repeaters, incorporating advanced switch models and realistic noise, aiding practical quantum network design.

Contribution

It introduces a novel simulation tool with generalized switch models, multiple memory registers, and flexible topologies for realistic quantum network fidelity analysis.

Findings

Comparison shows multi-register switches outperform sequential repeater chains.

The simulation accurately models depolarization noise effects.

The tool facilitates realistic quantum network engineering insights.

Abstract

We implement a simulation environment on top of NetSquid that is specifically designed for estimating the end-to-end fidelity across a path of quantum repeaters or quantum switches. The switch model includes several generalizations which are not currently available in other tools, and are useful for gaining insight into practical and realistic quantum network engineering problems: an arbitrary number of memory registers at the switches, simplicity in including entanglement distillation mechanisms, arbitrary switching topologies, and more accurate models for the depolarization noise. An illustrative case study is presented, namely a comparison in terms of performance between a repeater chain where repeaters can only swap sequentially, and a single switch equipped with multiple memory registers, able to handle multiple swapping requests.