Quantum information processing (QIP) opens new opportunities for high-performance computing, high-precision sensing, and secure communications. Among various QIP features, the entanglement is a unique one. To take full advantage of quantum resources, it will be necessary to interface quantum systems based on different encodings of information both discrete and continuous. The goal of this paper is to lay the groundwork for the development of a robust and efficient hybrid continuous variable-discrete variable (CV-DV) quantum network, enabling the distribution of a large number of entangled states over hybrid DV-CV multi-hop nodes in an arbitrary topology. The proposed hybrid quantum communication network (QCN) can serve as the backbone for a future quantum Internet, thus providing extensive long-term impacts on the economy and national security through QIP, distributed quantum computing, quantum networking, and distributed quantum sensing. By employing the photon addition and photon subtraction modules we describe how to generate the hybrid DV-CV entangled states and how to implement their teleportation and entanglement swapping through entangling measurements. We then describe how to extend the transmission distance between nodes in hybrid QCN by employing macroscopic light states, noiseless amplification, and reconfigurable quantum LDPC coding. We further describe how to enable quantum networking and distributed quantum computing by employing the deterministic cluster state concept introduced here. Finally, we describe how the proposed hybrid CV-DV states can be used in an entanglement-based hybrid QKD.
Quantum information processing (QIP) opens new opportunities for high-performance computing, high-precision sensing, and secure communications. Among various QIP features, the entanglement is a unique one. To take full advantage of quantum resources, it will be necessary to interface quantum systems based on different encodings of information both discrete and continuous. The goal of this paper is to lay the groundwork for the development of a robust and efficient hybrid continuous variable-discrete variable (CV-DV) quantum network, enabling the distribution of a large number of entangled states over hybrid DV-CV multi-hop nodes in an arbitrary topology. The proposed hybrid quantum communication network (QCN) can serve as the backbone for a future quantum Internet, thus providing extensive long-term impacts on the economy and national security through QIP, distributed quantum computing, quantum networking, and distributed quantum sensing. By employing the photon addition and photon subtraction modules we describe how to generate the hybrid DV-CV entangled states and how to implement their teleportation and entanglement swapping through entangling measurements. We then describe how to extend the transmission distance between nodes in hybrid QCN by employing macroscopic light states, noiseless amplification, and reconfigurable quantum LDPC coding. We further describe how to enable quantum networking and distributed quantum computing by employing the deterministic cluster state concept introduced here. Finally, we describe how the proposed hybrid CV-DV states can be used in an entanglement-based hybrid QKD.
The wave-particle duality of light has led to two different encodings of optical quantum information. One approach, referred to as the discrete-variable (DV) one, relies on finite dimensional quantum systems, while the other one, referred to as the continuous-variable (CV) one, is based on wave-like states belonging to an infinite dimensional Hilbert space. These two encodings have historically been separated, but recently, new hybrid protocols which aim at combining the advantages of the two encodings have emerged [1] . In that prospect our recent demonstration of the measurement-induced generation of hybrid entanglement between discrete- and continuous-variable quantum states [2] , [3] , located at distant places and connected by a lossy channel, has opened the way to the implementation of hybrid protocols and heterogeneous quantum networks. Following the first protocols based on this resource, such as the remote preparation of continuous-variable qubits [4] , or a violation of an Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering inequality [5] , we will here report our latest experimental results on entanglement swapping and quantum teleportation protocols using hybrid entangled states based on different encodings [6] .
Hybrid continuous-variable (CV)-discrete-variable (DV) quantum systems present a promising direction for quantum computing by combining the high dimensional encoding capabilities of qumodes with the control offered by DV qubits on the coupled qumodes. There have been exciting recent progresses on hybrid CV-DV quantum computing, including variational algorithms, error correction, compiler-level optimizations for Hamiltonian simulation, etc. However, there is a lack of a standardized CV-DV benchmark suite for assessing various emerging hardware platforms and evaluating software optimizations on hybrid CV-DV circuits. In this work, we introduce a simulation and benchmarking framework for hybrid CV-DV circuits, implemented using Bosonic Qiskit-a tool specifically designed to model CV-DV systems, along with QuTip for functional correctness verification. We construct and characterize representative CV-DV benchmarks, including cat state generation, GKP state generation, CV-DV state transfers, hybrid quantum Fourier transform, variational quantum algorithms, Hamiltonian simulation, and Shor's algorithm. To assess circuit complexity and scalability, we define a feature map organized into two categories: general features (e.g., qubit/qumode count, gate counts) and CV-DV-specific features (e.g., Wigner negativity, energy, truncation cost). These metrics enable evaluation of both classical simulability and hardware resource requirements. Our results, including one benchmark on real hardware, demonstrate that hybrid CV-DV architectures are not only viable but well-suited for a range of computational tasks, from optimization to Hamiltonian simulation. This framework lays the groundwork for systematic evaluation and future development of hybrid quantum systems.
The realization of a scalable quantum network (QN) hinges on the efficient distribution of entanglement across heterogeneous hardware platforms. While traditional QN frameworks are often restricted to single-encoding schemes, relying exclusively on either discrete (DV) or continuous (CV) variables, such segregated architectures limit the capacity and interoperability of large-scale systems. Here, we propose a scalable hybrid entanglement distribution scheme that bridges these domains by mapping hybrid entanglement swapping and concentration at DV--CV interfaces onto a unified set of series and parallel graph rules. We demonstrate that our hybrid approach exhibits a {potential} performance advantage over traditional point-to-point generation of maximally entangled states, achieving enhanced end-to-end entanglement within series-parallel topologies. These results provide a theoretical foundation for designing resource-efficient, interpretable architectures for the future quantum internet.
We introduce a feasible scheme to produce high-rate long-distance entanglement that uses hybrid entanglement between continuous variables (CVs) and discrete variables (DVs). We show that hybrid entanglement can effectively remove the experimental limitations of existing CV and DV systems to produce long-range entanglement. We benchmark the resulting DV entangled states using an entanglement-based-quantum-key-distribution protocol. We show, using hybrid entangled states, that entanglement-based quantum key distribution is possible with standard telecommunication fibers for 300 km. The key idea is the use of the CV part, which can be adjusted to be robust regarding photon losses, for increasing the transmission distance, and the use of the DV part for achieving high secure key rates. Our results show that hybrid entangled states provide a clear advantage for practical generation of long-distance and high-rate entanglement that may lead to further applications in quantum information processing.
Abstract Quantum key distribution (QKD) represents a cornerstone of secure communication in the quantum era. While discrete-variable QKD (DV-QKD) protocols were historically the first to demonstrate secure key exchange, continuous-variable QKD (CV-QKD) has emerged as a more practical alternative due to its seamless compatibility with current telecommunications infrastructure. CV-QKD relies on coherent and squeezed states of light, offering significant advantages for integration into modern optical networks. This review comprehensively explores the theoretical underpinnings, technological advancements, and practical challenges of CV-QKD. Special attention is given to the role of photonic integrated circuits (PICs) in enabling scalable and efficient implementation of CV-QKD systems. Furthermore, recent advances in machine learning have been leveraged to optimize CV-QKD performance, with data-driven techniques enhancing noise estimation, parameter optimization, and system security. Additionally, tensor networks provide efficient computational tools for analyzing complex quantum correlations, improving the efficiency and robustness of quantum key distribution protocols. These developments, combined with ongoing improvements in quantum photonic integration, pave the way for the practical deployment of large-scale, high-speed quantum-secure networks.
Hybrid entanglement swapping supports the teleportation of any arbitrary states, regardless of whether the quantum information in the state is encoded in Discrete Variables (DV) or Continuous Variables (CV). In this work, we study the CV teleportation channel created between two ground receivers via direct lossy-distribution from a low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellite. Such a flexible teleportation protocol has the potential to interconnect a global array of quantum-enabled devices regardless of the different intrinsic technology upon which the devices are built. However, past studies of hybrid entanglement swapping have not accounted for channel transmission loss. Here we derive the general framework for teleporting an arbitrary input mode over a lossy CV teleportation channel. We investigate the specific case where the input modes are part of DV states entangled in the photon number basis, then identify the optimal teleportation strategy. Our results show that, relative to DV photon-number entanglement sourced directly from the satellite, there are circumstances where our teleported DV states retain higher entanglement quality. We discuss the implications of our new results in the context of generating a global network of ultra-secure communications between different quantum-enabled devices which possess line-of-sight connections to LEO satellites. Specifically, we illustrate the impact the teleportation process has on the key rates from a Quantum Key Distribution protocol.