InterQnet

Quantum communications have come a long way, from a scientific concept to small-scale experiments and more recently 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 now emerged as a major challenge, especially along the dimensions of number and heterogeneity of nodes, distance between nodes, diversity of applications, and number of users.

The objective for InterQnet is to advance the state of the art in quantum networking with a focus on scalability. We will achieve this objective through work aimed at realizing two overarching goals: (1) demonstration of a heterogeneous quantum network (InterQnet-Achieve) and (2) systems study to scale quantum networks to regional and national scale (InterQnet-Scale). As illustrated in the figure, we organize the work into three Thrusts: Devices, Error Correction, and Network Architecture and Protocols.

Argonne is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, Northwestern University, University of Chicago and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The InterQnet team brings together experts in quantum networking devices, error correction, quantum networking protocols, classical networking, and numerical optimization. Furthermore, we have access to unmatched infrastructure, including fiber testbeds such as the Argonne quantum network (ARQNET), a quantum network testbed built by a subset of Argonne PIs that connects quantum resources in five different buildings via deployed fiber optics, and the Argonne quantum; qubit measurement capabilities (atom traps and dilution refrigerators); and simulation tools (SeQUeNCe).