In quantum networks multipath entanglement pu-rification (MEP) between a pair of source-destination nodes can substantially strengthen their entanglement connection. An efficient MEP strategy can therefore increase the size of the network region where bipartite entanglement based quantum information processing tasks can be implemented. Here, we analyse MEP in a general model of a quantum network and obtain design criteria for efficient MEP strategies. Further, by simulating two different MEP strategies, based on these criteria, on different underlying network topologies we explore how the topology determines the effectiveness of a fixed MEP strategy. Finally, we show that a careful choice of MEP strategy can make the entanglement connection strength between source-destination network nodes effectively independent of its topology. Our results can therefore provide a useful guide for the design of quantum networks and entanglement distribution protocols.
In quantum networks multipath entanglement pu-rification (MEP) between a pair of source-destination nodes can substantially strengthen their entanglement connection. An efficient MEP strategy can therefore increase the size of the network region where bipartite entanglement based quantum information processing tasks can be implemented. Here, we analyse MEP in a general model of a quantum network and obtain design criteria for efficient MEP strategies. Further, by simulating two different MEP strategies, based on these criteria, on different underlying network topologies we explore how the topology determines the effectiveness of a fixed MEP strategy. Finally, we show that a careful choice of MEP strategy can make the entanglement connection strength between source-destination network nodes effectively independent of its topology. Our results can therefore provide a useful guide for the design of quantum networks and entanglement distribution protocols.
In quantum networks, a set of entangled states distributed over multiple, alternative, distinct paths between a pair of source-destination nodes can be purified to obtain a higher fidelity entangled state between the nodes. This multipath entanglement purification (MP-EP) strategy can exploit the network's complex structure to strengthen the entanglement connection between node pairs separated by appropriate graph distances. We investigate the network scenarios in which MP-EP outperforms entanglement distribution over single network paths utilizing a statistical model of a quantum network and find that MP-EP can be an effective entanglement distribution strategy over a range of node separations determined by the average edge fidelities and probabilities of the network. We find that MP-EP can boost the entanglement connection between suitably separated node pairs to reach fidelities sufficient for a given quantum task thereby increasing the functionality of a quantum network. Further, we provide statistical criteria for the feasibility of MP-EP in terms of network parameters that can determine the regions of the network where MP-EP can be a useful entanglement distribution strategy.
Complex quantum networks can support a diverse set of long-range entanglement distribution schemes ranging from linear repeater protocols to multipath entanglement purification strategies. As a result, a network's resourcefulness, that is its ability to facilitate quantum communication, depends on the deployed distribution scheme. In this work, we analyse and compare the resourcefulness of quantum networks across a broad range of network topologies, including both regular and random networks, under two distinct entanglement distribution schemes. The first relies on entanglement swapping along a single path connecting a source-target pair, while the second exploits entanglement purification using multiple paths between the same source and target nodes. The resourcefulness of the network is quantified using a recently described metric [1] that averages over the maximum teleportation fidelity between arbitrary source-target pairs in the network. We present algorithms for estimating this metric under constraints of edge-usage and ordering of paths. Our results not only demonstrate the sensitivity of the average maximum teleportation fidelity metric to the choice of entanglement distribution protocol, but also highlight the significant improvements enabled by network purification schemes. In particular, purification-based approaches can substantially enhance average teleportation fidelity, thereby improving the overall teleportation capability of quantum networks.
Quantum networks facilitate numerous applications including secure communication and distributed quantum computation by performing entanglement distribution. For some multi-user quantum applications access to a shared multipartite state is required. We consider the problem of designing protocols for distributing such states, at an increased rate. For this, we propose three protocols that leverage multipath routing to increase the distribution rate for multi-user applications. The protocols are evaluated on quantum networks with NISQ constraints, including limited quantum memories and probabilistic entanglement generation. Simulation results show that the developed protocols achieve an exponential increase in the distribution rate of multipartite states compared to single path routing techniques, with a maximum increase of four orders of magnitude for the cases studied. Further, the relative increase in distribution rate was also found to improve for larger sets of users. When the protocols were tested in scaled-down real-world topologies, it was found that topology had a significant effect on the multipartite state distribution rates achieved by the protocols. Finally, we found that the benefits of multipath routing are maximum for short quantum memory decoherence times and intermediate values of entanglement generation probability. Hence, the protocols developed can benefit NISQ quantum network control and design.
Quantum networks rely on the efficient distribution of entanglement to enable long-distance quantum communication and information processing. A key challenge in these networks is the design of routing protocols capable of maintaining high quality entanglement in the presence of noise, decoherence, and imperfect operations, which progressively degrade the fidelity of entangled states through entanglement swapping. Entanglement purification provides an effective mechanism to mitigate this degradation at the cost of additional resources. In this work, we study purification-aware quantum routing and formulate the problem of selecting optimal purification strategies as an optimization task. By employing dynamic programming techniques, we identify strategies that optimally balance resource consumption and end-to-end fidelity, demonstrating the effectiveness of our approach across different scenarios.
Quantum networks, endowed with their distinct quantum properties, are poised to emerge as indispensable platforms for the implementation of quantum information technology applications in the near future. Within the realm of quantum networks, the transmission of remote quantum information presents a pivotal and intricate challenge, commonly referred to as the entanglement routing problem. While previous efforts have delved into the intricacies of entanglement routing, there has been a notable oversight concerning the crucial parameter of entanglement fidelity. Hence, this paper introduces a novel Purification-enabled Entanglement Routing Algorithm (PERA). Initially, PERA utilizes the network throughput as the routing metric and ensures fidelity guarantees on all nodes in the link through a hop-by-hop purification process. Subsequently, acknowledging the probabilistic nature of entanglement purification, a strategy involving multiple attempts at purification is employed. Finally, a comprehensive utility function is deployed to address the path selection problem for multiple source–destination pairs. Numerical simulations confirm that PERA establishes entanglement connections with outstanding fidelity guarantees. Concurrently, PERA outperforms the baseline algorithm in terms of network throughput and resource utilization.
We present an approach to purification and entanglement routing on complex quantum network architectures, that is, how a quantum network equipped with imperfect channel fidelities and limited memory storage time can distribute entanglement between users. We explore how network parameters influence the performance of path-finding algorithms necessary for optimizing routing and, in particular, we explore the interplay between the bandwidth of a quantum channels and the choice of purification protocol. Finally, we demonstrate multi-path routing on various network topologies with resource constraints, in an effort to inform future design choices for quantum network configurations. Our work optimizes both the choice of path over the quantum network and the choice of purification schemes used between nodes. We consider not only pair-production rate, but optimize over the fidelity of the delivered entangled state. We introduce effective heuristics enabling fast path-finding algorithms for maximizing entanglement shared between two nodes on a quantum network, with performance comparable to that of a computationally-expensive brute-force path search.