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arXiv:2407.04338 · Quantum Science and Technology

Entanglement distribution based on quantum walk in arbitrary quantum networks

Tianen Chen, Yun Shang, Chi-Tong Chen, Heng Fan

Published Apr 16, 2025• 0 citations
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Abstract

Abstract In large-scale quantum networks, quantum repeaters provide an efficient method to distribute entangled states among selected nodes for realizing long-distance and complicated quantum communications. However, extending quantum repeater protocols to high-dimensional quantum states in existing experiments faces great challenges. Owing to the feasible physical implementations of quantum walks, we proposed various basic modules applicable to quantum repeaters for distributing high-dimensional entangled states via quantum walks, including d-dimensional Bell states and multi-particle d-dimensional GHZ states. Furthermore, based on the above schemes, we provided a high-dimensional entanglement distribution scheme for arbitrary quantum tree networks. By searching for a Steiner tree in a quantum network, we can achieve high-dimensional entanglement distributions over an arbitrary quantum network. We constructed a quantum fractal network based on d-dimensional GHZ states and analyzed the quantum transport properties of continuous quantum walks in the network. Compared with the continuous quantum walk on the Sierpinski gasket, the quantum walk on the new fractal network spreads more widely within the same time frame. Finally, we conducted five experiments to implement various basic modules of 2-party or 3-party entanglement distribution schemes in a superconducting quantum processor. Our study can serve as a building block for constructing large and complex quantum networks.

DOI
10.1088/2058-9565/adcd96

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Abstract In large-scale quantum networks, quantum repeaters provide an efficient method to distribute entangled states among selected nodes for realizing long-distance and complicated quantum communications. However, extending quantum repeater protocols to high-dimensional quantum states in existing experiments faces great challenges. Owing to the feasible physical implementations of quantum walks, we proposed various basic modules applicable to quantum repeaters for distributing high-dimensional entangled states via quantum walks, including d-dimensional Bell states and multi-particle d-dimensional GHZ states. Furthermore, based on the above schemes, we provided a high-dimensional entanglement distribution scheme for arbitrary quantum tree networks. By searching for a Steiner tree in a quantum network, we can achieve high-dimensional entanglement distributions over an arbitrary quantum network. We constructed a quantum fractal network based on d-dimensional GHZ states and analyzed the quantum transport properties of continuous quantum walks in the network. Compared with the continuous quantum walk on the Sierpinski gasket, the quantum walk on the new fractal network spreads more widely within the same time frame. Finally, we conducted five experiments to implement various basic modules of 2-party or 3-party entanglement distribution schemes in a superconducting quantum processor. Our study can serve as a building block for constructing large and complex quantum networks.
Quantum networks provide access to exchange of quantum information. The primary task of quantum networks is to distribute entanglement between remote nodes. Although quantum repeater protocol enables long distance entanglement distribution, it has been restricted to one-dimensional linear network. Here we develop a general framework that allows application of quantum repeater protocol to arbitrary quantum repeater networks with fractal structure. Entanglement distribution across such networks is mapped to renormalization. Furthermore, we demonstrate that logarithmical times of recursive such renormalization transformations can trigger fractal to small-world transition, where a scalable quantum small-world network is achieved. Our result provides new insight into quantum repeater theory towards realistic construction of large-scale quantum networks.
The endeavor to develop quantum networks gave rise to a rapidly developing field with far-reaching applications such as secure communication and the realization of distributed computing tasks. This ultimately calls for the creation of flexible multiuser structures that allow for quantum communication between arbitrary pairs of parties in the network and facilitate also multiuser applications. To address this challenge, we propose a two-dimensional quantum repeater architecture to establish long-distance entanglement shared between multiple communication partners in the presence of channel noise and imperfect local control operations. The scheme is based on the creation of self-similar multiqubit entanglement structures at growing scale, where variants of entanglement swapping and multiparty entanglement purification are combined to create high-fidelity entangled states. We show how such networks can be implemented using trapped ions in cavities.
Quantum entanglement enables important computing applications such as quantum key distribution. Based on quantum entanglement, quantum networks are built to provide long-distance secret sharing between two remote communication parties. Establishing a multi-hop quantum entanglement exhibits a high failure rate, and existing quantum networks rely on trusted repeater nodes to transmit quantum bits. However, when the scale of a quantum network increases, it requires end-to-end multi-hop quantum entanglements in order to deliver secret bits without letting the repeaters know the secret bits. This work focuses on the entanglement routing problem, whose objective is to build long-distance entanglements via untrusted repeaters for concurrent source-destination pairs through multiple hops. Different from existing work that analyzes the traditional routing techniques on special network topologies, we present a comprehensive entanglement routing model that reflects the differences between quantum networks and classical networks as well as a new entanglement routing algorithm that utilizes the unique properties of quantum networks. Evaluation results show that the proposed algorithm Q-CAST increases the number of successful long-distance entanglements by a big margin compared to other methods. The model and simulator developed by this work may encourage more network researchers to study the entanglement routing problem.
Quantum entanglement enables important computing applications such as quantum key distribution. Based on quantum entanglement, quantum networks are built to provide long-distance secret sharing between two remote communication parties. Establishing a multi-hop quantum entanglement exhibits a high failure rate, and existing quantum networks rely on trusted repeater nodes to transmit quantum bits. However, when the scale of a quantum network increases, it requires end-to-end multi-hop quantum entanglements in order to deliver secret bits without letting the repeaters know the secret bits. This work focuses on the entanglement routing problem, whose objective is to build long-distance entanglements via untrusted repeaters for concurrent source-destination pairs through multiple hops. Different from existing work that analyzes the traditional routing techniques on special network topologies, we present a comprehensive entanglement routing model that reflects the differences between quantum networks and classical networks as well as a new entanglement routing algorithm that utilizes the unique properties of quantum networks. Evaluation results show that the proposed algorithm Q-CAST increases the number of successful long-distance entanglements by a big margin compared to other methods. The model and simulator developed by this work may encourage more network researchers to study the entanglement routing problem.
Quantum networks create a completely new way for communication, and the most important function of a quantum network is to generate long-distance quantum entanglement to serve a number of quantum applications. As the scale of the network expands, in order to establish end-to-end entanglement between two remote nodes, entangled pairs need to be generated and distributed among multiple repeaters along the path from the source to the destination, which requires a specific protocol to negotiate resource allocations and quantum operations among the repeaters. Thus, to realize such remote entanglement distribution in a quantum network, designing a stable and reliable protocol becomes urgent and necessary. In this article, we focus on how to guarantee the generation rate of entangled pairs between any two quantum nodes to meet the requirements of various quantum applications in a large-scale quantum network. We present a connection-oriented entanglement distribution protocol inspired by the connection-oriented communication model in classical networks. Our protocol is located in the network layer of the quantum network to enable end-to-end quantum communication. Three main features are provided by the proposed protocol: 1) it is reliable and can guarantee the successful entanglement generation; 2) it can reduce the influence of quantum decoherence via reducing the latency caused by resource competition; and 3) it can guarantee the rate of generating entanglement between two quantum nodes according to the requirement of quantum applications.
In quantum networks, one way to communicate is to distribute entanglements through swapping at intermediate nodes. Most existing work primarily aims to create efficient two-party end-to-end entanglement over long distances. However, some scenarios also require remote multipartite entanglement for applications such as quantum secret sharing and multi-party computation. Our previous study improved end-to-end entanglement rates using an asynchronous, tree-based routing scheme that relies solely on local knowledge of entanglement links, conserving unused entanglement and avoiding synchronous operations. This article extends this approach to multipartite entanglements, particularly the three-party Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) states. It shows that our asynchronous protocol outperforms traditional synchronous methods in entanglement rates, especially as coherence times increase. This approach can also be extended to four-party and larger multipartite GHZ states, highlighting the effectiveness and adaptability of asynchronous routing for multipartite scenarios across various network topologies.