Automatic Configuration Protocols for Optical Quantum Networks

2025-04-28

AI Summary

Current quantum network testbeds rely on manual configuration of physical connections among nodes, time-to-digital converters (TDCs), and optical switches—leading to labeling errors and prolonged debugging, thereby hindering scalable deployment. This paper proposes the first automated connection discovery protocol for photonic quantum networks. It leverages single-photon timing signature analysis, controllable optical switch path scanning, response pattern matching, and hardware-triggered synchronization to achieve zero-manual identification of TDC interconnections and optical switch port mappings. The protocol enables higher-layer functionalities—including topology discovery, link monitoring, and resource naming—thus bridging a critical gap in quantum network operational automation. Experimental evaluation demonstrates substantial reduction in configuration time, improved reproducibility, and enhanced system scalability, providing a practical, deployable configuration infrastructure for medium-scale quantum network testbeds.

Technology Category

• Search and Optimization: Algorithm Configuration
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Optimization of Spatio-temporal Systems
• Machine Learning: Quantum Machine Learning

Application Category

• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Incentives in network design for Web infrastructures and ecosystems
• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Representation, reconstruction, and subgraph or motif discovery in Web-related graphs
• Security and Privacy: Large-scale security measurements

Abstract

Before quantum networks can scale up to practical sizes, there are many deployment and configuration tasks that must be automated. Currently, quantum networking testbeds are largely manually configured: network nodes are constructed out of a combination of free-space and fiber optics before being connected to shared single-photon detectors, time-to-digital converters, and optical switches. Information about these connections must be tracked manually; mislabeling may result in experimental failure and protracted debugging sessions. In this paper, we propose protocols and algorithms to automate two such manual processes. First, we address the problem of automatically identifying connections between quantum network nodes and time-to-digital converters. Then, we turn to the more complex challenge of identifying the nodes attached to a quantum network's optical switches. Implementation of these protocols will help enable the development of other protocols necessary for quantum networks, such as network topology discovery, link quality monitoring, resource naming, and routing. We intend for this paper to serve as a roadmap for near-term implementation.

Problem

• Automate identification of quantum node connections
• Automate detection of nodes in optical switches
• Enable scalable quantum network protocols

Innovation

• Automate quantum network node connections
• Identify nodes linked to optical switches
• Enable network topology discovery protocols