Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Optical Fiber Communication Conference

Orchestration of Entanglement Distribution over a Q-LAN using the IEQNET Controller

Joaquín Chung, Anirudh Ramesh, Shariful Islam, Gregory S. Kanter, Cristián Peña, Si Xie, Raju Valivarthi, Neil E. Sinclair, Panagiotis Spentzouris, M. Spiropulu, Prem Kumar, Raj Kettimuthu

Published Jan 1, 2024• 2 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We will demonstrate orchestration of entanglement distribution over a quantum local area network (Q-LAN) using a quantum network controller. Our controller enables multiple users to share a Q-LAN composed of commercial equipment for quantum communications.
DOI
10.1364/ofc.2024.m3z.4

Related papers

Experiences on Developing an on-Demand Entanglement Service Coexisting with Classical Traffic over a Q-LAN Testbed

Md. Shariful Islam, Joaquín Chung, Raj Kettimuthu +2 more

Near-term quantum networks will require a framework for requesting the distribution of entanglement between remote parties. Centralized controllers that provide an interface to users, while orchestrating the functionalities of quantum devices and systems in the network have been proposed to achieve this goal. In this paper, we report our experiences on developing an on-demand entanglement service coexisting with classical traffic over a quantum local area network (Q-LAN) testbed. Our Q-LAN testbed is located at Argonne National Laboratory campus, and it is composed of deployed fiber optics links interconnect commercial quantum and classical networking equipment. We utilize an empirical model to determine the configuration parameters of a commercial entangled photon source (EPS), given the requested coincidence-to-accidental ratio (CAR) and knowledge of the power levels of classical traffic on the network. We delineate our approach towards building an orchestrator based on this model and report our results attained up to this point. Future research aims to extend remote entanglement capabilities, improve timing synchronization, and enhance communications across multiple nodes, further advancing the practical deployment of quantum network technologies.

IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering (QCE)•Sep 15, 2024•1 citation

A Dynamic Multi-Protocol Entanglement Distribution Quantum Network

R. Wang, Obada Alia, M. J. Clark +10 more

We implement a six-user quantum communication network utilising a quantum-enabled ROADM for flexible and on-demand allocation of entanglement across different users. This allows dynamic networking for multiple quantum protocols.

Optical Fiber Communication Conference•Jan 1, 2022•24 citations

A Brief Introduction to Quantum Network Control

Víctor Valls, Panagiotis Promponas, Leandros Tassiulas

Quantum networking is an emerging area with the potential to transform information processing and communications. In this article, we present a brief introduction to quantum network control, an area in quantum networking dedicated to designing algorithms for distributing entanglement (i.e., entangled qubits). We start by explaining what qubits and entanglement are and how they furnish quantum network control operations, such as entanglement swapping and teleportation. With those operations, we present a model for distributing entanglement in a multi-hop quantum network to enable applications such as quantum key distribution and distributed quantum computing. We conclude the article by presenting open research problems in the field, including the characterization of the quantum network capacity region, and the design of throughput-optimal policies.

arXiv:2407.19899•IEEE Communications Magazine•Oct 1, 2024•5 citations

Scalable and secure architecture for quantum networks

Muneer Alshowkan, Philip G. Evans, Brian P. Williams +6 more

We demonstrate a scalable quantum local area network design with secure classical communications for data management and instrument control. In this design, secret keys generated from quantum key distribution are supplied to commercial off-the-shelf firewalls to establish encrypted control planes between three remote nodes.

IEEE Photonics Conference•Nov 1, 2022•0 citations

Design and Implementation of the Illinois Express Quantum Metropolitan Area Network

Joaquín Chung, Ely M. Eastman, Gregory S. Kanter +12 more

The Illinois Express Quantum Network (IEQNET) is a program to realize metropolitan scale quantum networking over deployed optical fiber using currently available technology. IEQNET consists of multiple sites that are geographically dispersed in the Chicago metropolitan area. Each site has one or more quantum nodes (Q-Nodes) representing the communication parties in a quantum network. Q-Nodes generate or measure quantum signals such as entangled photons and communicate the measurement results via standard, classical signals and conventional networking processes. The entangled photons in IEQNET nodes are generated at multiple wavelengths, and are selectively distributed to the desired users via transparent optical switches. Here we describe the network architecture of IEQNET, including the Internet-inspired layered hierarchy that leverages software-defined networking (SDN) technology to perform traditional wavelength routing and assignment between the Q-Nodes. Specifically, SDN decouples the control and data planes, with the control plane being entirely implemented in the classical domain. We also discuss the IEQNET processes that address issues associated with synchronization, calibration, network monitoring, and scheduling. An important goal of IEQNET is to demonstrate the extent to which the control plane classical signals can co-propagate with the data plane quantum signals in the same fiber lines (quantum-classical signal “coexistence”). This goal is furthered by the use of tunable narrow-band optical filtering at the receivers and, at least in some cases, a wide wavelength separation between the quantum and classical channels. We envision IEQNET to aid in developing robust and practical quantum networks by demonstrating metro-scale quantum communication tasks such as entanglement distribution and quantum-state teleportation.

arXiv:2207.09589•IEEE Transactions on Quantum Engineering•Jan 1, 2022•56 citations

Illinois Express Quantum Network (IEQNET): metropolitan-scale experimental quantum networking over deployed optical fiber

Joaquín Chung, Gregory S. Kanter, Nikolai Lauk +11 more

The Illinois Express Quantum Network (IEQNET) is a program to realize metro-scale quantum networking over deployed optical fiber using currently available technology. IEQNET consists of multiple sites that are geographically dispersed in the Chicago metropolitan area. Each site has one or more quantum nodes (Qnodes) representing the communication parties in a quantum network. Q-nodes generate or measure quantum signals such as entangled photons and communicate the results via standard, classical, means. The entangled photons in IEQNET nodes are generated at multiple wavelengths, and are selectively distributed to the desired users via optical switches. Here we describe the network architecture of IEQNET, including the Internet-inspired layered hierarchy that leverages software-defined-networking (SDN) technology to perform traditional wavelength routing and assignment between the Q-nodes. Specifically, SDN decouples the control and data planes, with the control plane being entirely classical. Issues associated with synchronization, calibration, network monitoring, and scheduling will be discussed. An important goal of IEQNET is demonstrating the extent to which the control plane can coexist with the data plane using the same fiber lines. This goal is furthered by the use of tunable narrow-band optical filtering at the receivers and, at least in some cases, a wide wavelength separation between the quantum and classical channels. We envision IEQNET to aid in developing robust and practical quantum networks by demonstrating metro-scale quantum communication tasks such as entanglement distribution and quantum-state teleportation.

arXiv:2104.04629•Apr 9, 2021•24 citations
Near-term quantum networks will require a framework for requesting the distribution of entanglement between remote parties. Centralized controllers that provide an interface to users, while orchestrating the functionalities of quantum devices and systems in the network have been proposed to achieve this goal. In this paper, we report our experiences on developing an on-demand entanglement service coexisting with classical traffic over a quantum local area network (Q-LAN) testbed. Our Q-LAN testbed is located at Argonne National Laboratory campus, and it is composed of deployed fiber optics links interconnect commercial quantum and classical networking equipment. We utilize an empirical model to determine the configuration parameters of a commercial entangled photon source (EPS), given the requested coincidence-to-accidental ratio (CAR) and knowledge of the power levels of classical traffic on the network. We delineate our approach towards building an orchestrator based on this model and report our results attained up to this point. Future research aims to extend remote entanglement capabilities, improve timing synchronization, and enhance communications across multiple nodes, further advancing the practical deployment of quantum network technologies.
Quantum networking is an emerging area with the potential to transform information processing and communications. In this article, we present a brief introduction to quantum network control, an area in quantum networking dedicated to designing algorithms for distributing entanglement (i.e., entangled qubits). We start by explaining what qubits and entanglement are and how they furnish quantum network control operations, such as entanglement swapping and teleportation. With those operations, we present a model for distributing entanglement in a multi-hop quantum network to enable applications such as quantum key distribution and distributed quantum computing. We conclude the article by presenting open research problems in the field, including the characterization of the quantum network capacity region, and the design of throughput-optimal policies.
The Illinois Express Quantum Network (IEQNET) is a program to realize metropolitan scale quantum networking over deployed optical fiber using currently available technology. IEQNET consists of multiple sites that are geographically dispersed in the Chicago metropolitan area. Each site has one or more quantum nodes (Q-Nodes) representing the communication parties in a quantum network. Q-Nodes generate or measure quantum signals such as entangled photons and communicate the measurement results via standard, classical signals and conventional networking processes. The entangled photons in IEQNET nodes are generated at multiple wavelengths, and are selectively distributed to the desired users via transparent optical switches. Here we describe the network architecture of IEQNET, including the Internet-inspired layered hierarchy that leverages software-defined networking (SDN) technology to perform traditional wavelength routing and assignment between the Q-Nodes. Specifically, SDN decouples the control and data planes, with the control plane being entirely implemented in the classical domain. We also discuss the IEQNET processes that address issues associated with synchronization, calibration, network monitoring, and scheduling. An important goal of IEQNET is to demonstrate the extent to which the control plane classical signals can co-propagate with the data plane quantum signals in the same fiber lines (quantum-classical signal “coexistence”). This goal is furthered by the use of tunable narrow-band optical filtering at the receivers and, at least in some cases, a wide wavelength separation between the quantum and classical channels. We envision IEQNET to aid in developing robust and practical quantum networks by demonstrating metro-scale quantum communication tasks such as entanglement distribution and quantum-state teleportation.
The Illinois Express Quantum Network (IEQNET) is a program to realize metro-scale quantum networking over deployed optical fiber using currently available technology. IEQNET consists of multiple sites that are geographically dispersed in the Chicago metropolitan area. Each site has one or more quantum nodes (Qnodes) representing the communication parties in a quantum network. Q-nodes generate or measure quantum signals such as entangled photons and communicate the results via standard, classical, means. The entangled photons in IEQNET nodes are generated at multiple wavelengths, and are selectively distributed to the desired users via optical switches. Here we describe the network architecture of IEQNET, including the Internet-inspired layered hierarchy that leverages software-defined-networking (SDN) technology to perform traditional wavelength routing and assignment between the Q-nodes. Specifically, SDN decouples the control and data planes, with the control plane being entirely classical. Issues associated with synchronization, calibration, network monitoring, and scheduling will be discussed. An important goal of IEQNET is demonstrating the extent to which the control plane can coexist with the data plane using the same fiber lines. This goal is furthered by the use of tunable narrow-band optical filtering at the receivers and, at least in some cases, a wide wavelength separation between the quantum and classical channels. We envision IEQNET to aid in developing robust and practical quantum networks by demonstrating metro-scale quantum communication tasks such as entanglement distribution and quantum-state teleportation.