Quantum internet: The quirks of quantum mechanics may lead to better computer networks

Woonghee Lee, Dong-Hee Kim, Junbeom Hur

While the quantum Internet leverages quantum mechanics to achieve unprecedented security against security threats such as eavesdropping, challenges remain, particularly in trust establishment. Traditional methods using a trusted third party in the conventional Internet system may be inadequate in decentralized or ad-hoc networks. Whereas, blockchain technology offers a decentralized solution, making it a promising solution. However, no studies have been conducted to evaluate the blockchain consensus protocols in diverse quantum Internet scenarios. This study assesses the-state-of-art Byzantine Fault Tolerance consensus protocol, ParBFT, with regard to the scal-ability and resilience through the quantum Internet simulation. Moreover, this study explores the potential enhancement to better meet the unique demands of high-latency or unstable networks.

Fabio Cavaliere, Rana Pratap Sircar, Tommaso Catuogno

Moushumi Barman, Gypsy Nandi

Angela Sara Cacciapuoti, Marcello Caleffi, Francesco Tafuri +3 more

The Quantum Internet, a network interconnecting remote quantum devices through quantum links in synergy with classical ones, is envisioned as the final stage of the quantum revolution, opening fundamentally new communications and computing capabilities. But the Quantum Internet is governed by the laws of quantum mechanics. Phenomena with no counterpart in classical networks, such as no-cloning, quantum measurement, entanglement and quantum teleportation, impose new challenging constraints for network design. Specifically, classical network functionalities are based on the assumption that classical information can be safely read and copied. However, this assumption does not hold in the Quantum Internet. As a consequence, its design requires a major network-paradigm shift to harness the quantum mechanics specificities. The goal of this work is to shed light on the challenges and open problems of Quantum Internet design. We first introduce some basic knowledge of quantum mechanics, needed to understand the differences between a classical and a quantum network. Then, we introduce quantum teleportation as the key strategy for transmitting quantum information without physically transferring the particle that stores the quantum information or violating the principles of quantum mechanics. Finally, the key research challenges to design quantum communication networks are discussed.

Attila Balázs Nagy, Beatrix Fregán, Zoltán Rajnai

As quantum computers advance rapidly, traditional encryption methods are becoming vulnerable, making it essential to explore fundamentally new communication technologies such as the quantum internet. The quantum internet is a revolutionary technology that uses the principles of quantum mechanics to transmit data securely and quickly. Unlike classical networks, quantum networks use quantum entanglement and quantum key sharing (QKD), thus providing a higher level of security against future cyber threats. This article presents the technological foundations of the quantum internet, the architecture of quantum networks, and the infrastructure challenges, including quantum repeaters and network scaling. We also discuss industrial applications of the quantum internet, with a focus on the financial, government, and healthcare sectors. The quantum internet is still under development, but it is expected to become a new standard for communication in the coming decades. The study highlights the technological readiness and practical potential of the quantum internet, pointing to a secure and scalable future in communication networks.

Munir Hasan Nayfeh, Ammar M. Nayfeh