Quantum network simulators are essential for the design and evaluation of quantum network architectures and protocols. However, developing an effective simulator is particularly challenging due to the stateful and non-local nature of quantum entanglement, which requires persistent state awareness and tight in-network coordination. Moreover, because quantum communication protocols inherently rely on classical signaling, a realistic simulator must seamlessly integrate classical and quantum communication primitives within a unified framework. In this work, we present
Q2NS, a modular and extensible quantum network simulation framework built on top of ns-3. The architectural design of
Q2NSenforces a clear separation of concerns between the operational functionalities of modules and entities and the overarching control logic, enabling easy adaptation to heterogeneous and rapidly evolving Quantum Internet paradigms while leveraging ns-3's mature classical networking stack. Additionally,
Q2NSincludes a dedicated visualization tool to facilitate developing an intuitive understanding of entanglement-based quantum networking. This design enables accurate modeling of entanglement dynamics and protocol control logic, by providing a flexible, open, and scalable platform for advancing the Quantum Internet research.
Quantum network simulators are essential for the design and evaluation of quantum network architectures and protocols. However, developing an effective simulator is particularly challenging due to the stateful and non-local nature of quantum entanglement, which requires persistent state awareness and tight in-network coordination. Moreover, because quantum communication protocols inherently rely on classical signaling, a realistic simulator must seamlessly integrate classical and quantum communication primitives within a unified framework. In this work, we present Q2NS, a modular and extensible quantum network simulation framework built on top of ns-3. The architectural design of Q2NS enforces a clear separation of concerns between the operational functionalities of modules and entities and the overarching control logic, enabling easy adaptation to heterogeneous and rapidly evolving Quantum Internet paradigms while leveraging ns-3's mature classical networking stack. Additionally, Q2NS includes a dedicated visualization tool to facilitate developing an intuitive understanding of entanglement-based quantum networking. This design enables accurate modeling of entanglement dynamics and protocol control logic, by providing a flexible, open, and scalable platform for advancing the Quantum Internet research.
Quantum entanglement offers unparalleled security and information processing capabilities, but realizing this potential requires sophisticated quantum communication protocols. Current quantum communication networks often rely on pre-defined topologies, which can limit scalability and efficiency. This paper introduces a novel algorithm, "Adaptive Quantum Topology Optimization," designed to dynamically optimize the quantum entanglement network topology, thereby enhancing the efficiency and security of quantum communication. We propose a self-learning process that adjusts quantum entanglement parameters based on observed network performance, leading to more robust and adaptable quantum communication systems. This work addresses the limitations of traditional network design by providing a flexible and adaptive approach to topology optimization. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this algorithm through simulations, showcasing significant improvements in entanglement fidelity and communication rate compared to static topology configurations.