Bakker, D.L.; Jong, Y.; Dirks, B.P.F.; Amaral, G.C. A Best-Path Approach to the Design of a Hybrid Space–Ground Quantum Network with Dynamic Constraints. Photonics2024, 11, 268.
Bakker, D.L.; Jong, Y.; Dirks, B.P.F.; Amaral, G.C. A Best-Path Approach to the Design of a Hybrid Space–Ground Quantum Network with Dynamic Constraints. Photonics 2024, 11, 268.
Bakker, D.L.; Jong, Y.; Dirks, B.P.F.; Amaral, G.C. A Best-Path Approach to the Design of a Hybrid Space–Ground Quantum Network with Dynamic Constraints. Photonics2024, 11, 268.
Bakker, D.L.; Jong, Y.; Dirks, B.P.F.; Amaral, G.C. A Best-Path Approach to the Design of a Hybrid Space–Ground Quantum Network with Dynamic Constraints. Photonics 2024, 11, 268.
Abstract
The design and operation of quantum networks are both decisive in the current push towards a global quantum internet. Although space-enabled quantum connectivity has already been identified as a beneficial candidate for long-range quantum channels for over two decades, the architecture of a hybrid space-ground network is still a work in progress. Here, we propose an analysis of such a network based on a best-path approach, where either fiber- or satellite-based elementary links can be concatenated to form a repeater chain. The network consisting of quantum information processing nodes, equipped with both ground and space connections, is mapped into a graph structure, where edge weights represent the achievable secret key rates, chosen as the figure of merit for the network analysis. A weight minimization algorithm allows identifying the best path dynamically, i.e., as the weather conditions, stray light radiance, and satellite orbital position changes. From the results we conclude that satellite links will play a significant role on the future large-scale quantum internet, and both a constellation of satellites and significant advances in filtering technology are required to fulfill continuous coverage.
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
