The creation of the future quantum Internet requires the development of new systems, architectures, and communications protocols. As a matter of fact, the optical fiber technology is affected by extremely high losses; thus, the deployment of a quantum satellite network (QSN) composed of quantum satellite repeaters (QSRs) in low Earth orbit would make it possible to overcome these attenuation problems. For these reasons, we consider the design of an ad hoc quantum satellite backbone based on the Software-Defined Networking (SDN) paradigm with a modular two-tier Control Plane (CP). The first tier of the CP is embedded into a Master Control Station (MCS) on the ground, which coordinates the entire constellation and performs the management of the CP integrated into the constellation itself. This second tier is responsible for entanglement generation and management on the selected path. In addition to defining the SDN architecture in all its components, we present a possible protocol to generate entanglement on the end-to-end (E2E) path. Furthermore, we evaluate the performance of the developed protocol in terms of the latency required to establish entanglement between two ground stations connected via the quantum satellite backbone.
The creation of the future quantum Internet requires the development of new systems, architectures, and communications protocols. As a matter of fact, the optical fiber technology is affected by extremely high losses; thus, the deployment of a quantum satellite network (QSN) composed of quantum satellite repeaters (QSRs) in low Earth orbit would make it possible to overcome these attenuation problems. For these reasons, we consider the design of an ad hoc quantum satellite backbone based on the Software-Defined Networking (SDN) paradigm with a modular two-tier Control Plane (CP). The first tier of the CP is embedded into a Master Control Station (MCS) on the ground, which coordinates the entire constellation and performs the management of the CP integrated into the constellation itself. This second tier is responsible for entanglement generation and management on the selected path. In addition to defining the SDN architecture in all its components, we present a possible protocol to generate entanglement on the end-to-end (E2E) path. Furthermore, we evaluate the performance of the developed protocol in terms of the latency required to establish entanglement between two ground stations connected via the quantum satellite backbone.
The interconnection of quantum computers through the so-called Quantum Internet is a very promising approach. The most critical issues concern the physical layer, considering that the creation of entanglement over long distances is still problematic. Given the difficulty that usually arises from fiber optics due to exponential losses, the introduction of intermediate quantum repeaters (QRs) allows mitigating the problem. A quantum satellite network based on QRs on satellites deployed over low Earth orbit could make it possible to overcome the constraints of terrestrial optical networks. Hence, the recent technological developments in terms of quantum satellite communications motivated our investigation on an ad hoc quantum satellite backbone design based on the software defined networking paradigm with a control plane directly integrated into the constellation itself. Our aim is to outline some guidelines by comparing several options. Specifically, the focus is to analyze different architectural solutions making some considerations on their feasibility, possible benefits, and costs. Finally, we performed some simulations on the architectures we considered the most promising, concluding that the integration of the control plane in the constellation itself is the most appropriate solution.
Recently, quantum computing and communications rapidly developed to interconnect heterogeneous quantum devices. In particular, some researchers have been performed about terrestrial quantum communications over typical optical fiber links. However, this technology is affected by extremely high losses that can be faced only through the deployment of several repeaters, which in turn involve impractical costs for end-to-end (E2E) route management. Quantum Satellite Networks (QSNs) can overcome the limitations of terrestrial optical networks, such as a remarkable signal attenuation over long distances and difficulty of intercontinental communications. The recent studies on quantum satellite communications motivated our research towards a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) quantum satellite backbone for interconnecting quantum on Earth Servers in order to achieve an unprecedented computational capacity. Specifically, our paper proposes a near optimum E2E path evaluation procedure allowing an efficient switching in order to maximize the entanglement generation rate. Indeed, this is one of the main issues that involve the Data Link Layer and the Network Layer of the Quantum Internet (QI) protocol stack, which is in its early standardization phase. In particular, the design of our approach is based on the Software-Defined Networking (SDN) paradigm with the aim of minimizing the number of hops for E2E connection and maximizing network capacity. Therefore, we compare distributed and centralized approaches in order to achieve a trade-off between performance and cost.
The Quantum Internet (QI) necessitates a complete revision of the classical protocol stack and the technologies used, whereas its operating principles depend on the physical laws governing quantum mechanics. Recent experiments demonstrate that Optical Fibers (OFs) allow connections only in urban areas. Therefore, a novel Quantum Satellite Backbone (QSB) composed of a considerable number of Quantum Satellite Repeaters (QSRs) deployed in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) would allow for the overcoming of typical OFs' attenuation problems. Nevertheless, the dynamic nature of the scenario represents a challenge for novel satellite networks, making their design and management complicated. Therefore, we have designed an ad hoc QSB considering the interaction between Digital Twin (DT) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN). In addition to defining the system architecture, we present a DT monitoring protocol that allows efficient status recovery for the creation of multiple End-to-End (E2E) entanglement states. Moreover, we have evaluated the system performance by assessing the path monitoring and configuration time, the time required to establish the E2E entanglement, and the fidelity between a couple of Ground Stations (GSs) interconnected through the QSB, also conducting a deep analysis of the created temporal paths.
In the recent year, quantum computing and communications (QCC) represented two revolutionary technologies that are rapidly developing and integrating to interconnect heterogeneous quantum devices within the so-called Quantum Internet (QI). Despite several investigations and developments have been performed on terrestrial quantum communications over typical optical fiber links, there are some limitations in terms of extremely high losses that can be faced by deploying several repeaters, which in turns involves impractical costs for network management, especially in terms of forwarding procedures. Quantum Satellite Networks (QSNs) is capable to overcome the constraints of terrestrial optical networks, i.e., the remarkable attenuations over long distances which makes the intercontinental communications unaffordable. The recent technological developments in terms of quantum satellite communications motivated our investigation on an ad hoc quantum satellite backbone interconnecting quantum on Earth Servers in order to achieve an unprecedented computational capacity. Our aim is to investigate existing constellations, spanning from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) up to micro-satellites, to properly derive some guidelines for designing an efficient backbone. Specifically, the focus is on evaluating the impact of forwarding approaches on the end-to-end capacity (i.e., the entanglement generation rate) to achieve a trade-off between performance and cost.
The use of quantum satellites can be significant paving the way for novel telecommunications network paradigms, making it possible to connect remote regions. Given the rapid development of quantum communication technologies, many studies are focusing on quantum satellites interconnections via Free Space Optic (FSO), especially considering that the adoption of wired alternatives did not achieve significant results, mainly in terms of covering long distances. In this context, the global interconnection of Quantum Computers (QCs) through the so-called Quantum Internet (QI) compels for new communications and computing architectures such as Quantum Cloud (QCloud). To this purpose, the deployment of Satellite Quantum Networks (SQNs) could make easily available innovative services spanning from security to advanced computing, especially by using Software-Defined Networking (SDN) technology, which is considered a significant enabler for the management of SQNs. Moreover, considering the rapid variability of the topology in terms of nodes and links features, the paper proposes a specific Temporal Networks (TNs) optimization strategy embedded in an SDN Controller ecosystem, dynamically optimizing the path durations to achieve the highest entanglement rate, while limiting the disconnections. Performance evaluation in a worst case scenario shows that the proposed framework is able to support distributed applications by exploiting all the connection opportunities.
A large scale quantum network requires the distribution of high-fidelity end-to-end entanglement. To overcome the range limitations inherent to terrestrial fiber, a leading architecture has emerged: satellite-based sources transmitting entanglement to quantum repeaters on the ground. By bridging the gap between abstract analytical frameworks and computationally heavy numerical simulations, this paper provides the first quantitative answer to the question of such a network's achievable performance with current and near-term space technology, while accounting for entanglement swapping and purification. This is achieved by integrating a detailed physical model of a satellite-to-ground link into an analytical entanglement resource estimation framework for quantum repeaters, enabling an optimization of the end-to-end entanglement rate. Our analysis, performed across leading quantum hardware platforms, shows that Low Earth Orbit satellite constellations combined with quantum repeaters employing Neutral Atom or Nitrogen and Silicon Vacancy qubits, could enable a global quantum network, distributing entanglement over distances up to 20,000 km, sufficient for connecting any two points on Earth. This work highlights the major bottlenecks in space and quantum hardware technologies, which need to be addressed, thereby guiding informed investments necessary for enabling a large scale quantum network.