Physics-Informed Discrete-Event Simulation of Polarization-Encoded Quantum Networks

TL;DR

This paper introduces an advanced discrete-event simulator for polarization-encoded quantum networks, integrating physics-based models to predict entanglement distribution performance in realistic conditions.

Contribution

It extends the SeQUeNCe simulator with detailed optical and fiber physics models, enabling accurate hardware-parameterized predictions of quantum network performance.

Findings

Successfully reproduces experimental spectra and polarization correlations.

Models polarization mode dispersion, chromatic dispersion, and Raman noise.

Enables realistic performance prediction of quantum entanglement distribution.

Abstract

We extend the SeQUeNCe discrete-event simulator with physics-based models for polarization-encoded photonic quantum networks. Our framework integrates Jones-calculus optical components, including an SPDC Bell-state source, wave plates, and polarizing beam splitters, together with a multi-section fiber model capturing polarization mode dispersion, chromatic dispersion, and Raman noise from coexisting classical traffic. We validate the simulator by reproducing experimentally reported spectra, polarization correlations, quantum state tomography, and dispersion- and Raman-induced noise. The resulting platform enables hardware-parameterized prediction of entanglement distribution performance under realistic deployment conditions.