Scalable Time-Tagged Data Acquisition for Entanglement Distribution in Quantum Networks

TL;DR

This paper introduces a scalable, synchronized time-tagging system for quantum networks that improves data handling and synchronization, validated through a live entanglement distribution experiment achieving high coincidence detection rates.

Contribution

A modular Time Tagging agent leveraging White Rabbit signals for network-wide synchronization with real-time calibration and data compression, enhancing quantum network data acquisition.

Findings

Achieved synchronized coincidence detection at 25,000 counts/sec

Demonstrated system's effectiveness in a live two-lab entanglement experiment

Improved data handling and synchronization in quantum networks

Abstract

In distributed quantum applications such as entanglement distribution, precise time synchronization and efficient time-tagged data handling are essential. Traditional systems often suffer from overflow, synchronization drift, and storage inefficiencies. We propose a modular Time Tagging (TT) agent that uses a 1 pulse per second (PPS) signal from White Rabbit (WR) devices to achieve network-wide synchronization, while applying real-time calibration, overflow mitigation, and compression. A live two-lab entanglement distribution experiment validated the system's performance, achieving synchronized coincidence detection at 25,000 counts/sec.