Mode: Presentation, live demonstration
Presenters: Dr. Rajkumar Kettimuthu and Alexander Kolar; Argonne National Laboratory and The University of Chicago
Alexander Kolar
Rajkumar Kettimuthu
Quantum networks promise to deliver new, revolutionary applications that include distributing cryptographic keys with provable security, solving distributed computational tasks with exponential reduction in communication complexity, or synchronizing clocks with unprecedented accuracy to name just a few. Recent breakthroughs in quantum engineering have allowed experimental realizations of quantum network prototypes that are supplemented by commercial efforts in the network security arena. One of the most significant engineering challenges is building networks that scale both in the number of users and communication distance. Achieving this goal requires a combination of advances in hardware engineering, standardization of new network architectures, development of robust control plane protocols, and techniques that allow reproducible performance testing.
Quantum network simulations can help in understanding the tradeoffs of alternative quantum network architectures, optimizing quantum hardware, and developing a robust control plane. As the size of experimental networks grows and new protocols and technologies are developed, the need to use simulations to model the behavior and interactions of these complex systems increases. Simulator of QUantum Network Communication (SeQUeNCe) is a customizable discrete-event quantum network simulator that models quantum hardware and network protocols. SeQUeNCe uses a modularized design that separates functionality at different network layers into modules. This modularized design allows the testing of alternative quantum network protocols and hardware models and the study of their interactions.
In this tutorial, we will start with a brief overview of quantum communications, their potential benefits, use cases and challenges. Then, we will introduce SeQUeNCe and present its design, interface and capabilities, including the ability to parallelize the execution of large-scale quantum network simulation on high performance computers. We will also show a live demo of SeQUeNCe.