Software-defined network abstractions and configuration interfaces for building programmable quantum networks
Venkat R. Dasari, Ronald J. Sadlier, Billy Geerhart, Nikolai A. Snow, Brian P. Williams, Travis S. Humble · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 2017
Well-defined and stable quantum networks are essential to realize functional quantum communication applications. Quantum networks are complex and must use both quantum and classical channels to support quantum applications like QKD, teleportation, and superdense coding. In particular, the no-cloning theorem prevents the reliable copying of quantum signals such that the quantum and classical channels must be highly coordinated using robust and extensible methods. In this paper, we describe new network abstractions and interfaces for building programmable quantum networks. Our approach leverages new OpenFlow data structures and table type patterns to build programmable quantum networks and to support quantum applications.