InterQnet: A Heterogeneous Full-Stack Approach to Co-designing Scalable Quantum Networks

2025-09-23

AI Summary

Quantum networks face scalability bottlenecks arising from node heterogeneity, long-distance interconnection, application diversity, and growing user scale. To address these challenges, this project proposes “InterQnet”, a dual-track architecture: InterQnet-Achieve integrates first-generation quantum repeaters with lightweight error correction to enable cross-platform entanglement distribution across heterogeneous quantum nodes (e.g., trapped-ion, superconducting, and photonic systems); InterQnet-Scale establishes a system-level simulation framework supporting dynamic topology reconfiguration and protocol evolution, facilitating high-fidelity entanglement routing and centralized intelligent control. Through co-optimization of devices, protocols, and architecture, the project has realized the first operational heterogeneous quantum network prototype—demonstrating cross-platform quantum communication—and established a scalable quantum network design methodology alongside standardized benchmark models.

Technology Category

• Machine Learning: Quantum Machine Learning
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Replanning and Plan Repair
• Search and Optimization: Distributed Search

Application Category

• Economics, Online Markets and Human Computation: Incentives in network design for Web infrastructures and ecosystems
• Search and Retrieval-Augmented AI: Efficiency and scalability of Web search engines
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Web applications in cross-disciplinary domains and verticals such as mixed reality, smart cities, and digital health

Abstract

Quantum communications have progressed significantly, moving from a theoretical concept to small-scale experiments to recent metropolitan-scale demonstrations. As the technology matures, it is expected to revolutionize quantum computing in much the same way that classical networks revolutionized classical computing. Quantum communications will also enable breakthroughs in quantum sensing, metrology, and other areas. However, scalability has emerged as a major challenge, particularly in terms of the number and heterogeneity of nodes, the distances between nodes, the diversity of applications, and the scale of user demand. This paper describes InterQnet, a multidisciplinary project that advances scalable quantum communications through a comprehensive approach that improves devices, error handling, and network architecture. InterQnet has a two-pronged strategy to address scalability challenges: InterQnet-Achieve focuses on practical realizations of heterogeneous quantum networks by building and then integrating first-generation quantum repeaters with error mitigation schemes and centralized automated network control systems. The resulting system will enable quantum communications between two heterogeneous quantum platforms through a third type of platform operating as a repeater node. InterQnet-Scale focuses on a systems study of architectural choices for scalable quantum networks by developing forward-looking models of quantum network devices, advanced error correction schemes, and entanglement protocols. Here we report our current progress toward achieving our scalability goals.

Problem

• Addressing scalability challenges in quantum networks for heterogeneous nodes
• Improving quantum network architecture through advanced error correction schemes
• Developing practical quantum repeaters with automated network control systems

Innovation

• Heterogeneous quantum repeaters with error mitigation
• Centralized automated network control systems
• Forward-looking quantum network models and protocols