A Brief Introduction to Quantum Network Control

Abstract

Quantum networking is an emerging area with the potential to transform information processing and communications. In this article, we present a brief introduction to quantum network control, an area in quantum networking dedicated to designing algorithms for distributing entanglement (i.e., entangled qubits). We start by explaining what qubits and entanglement are and how they furnish quantum network control operations, such as entanglement swapping and teleportation. With those operations, we present a model for distributing entanglement in a multi-hop quantum network to enable applications such as quantum key distribution and distributed quantum computing. We conclude the article by presenting open research problems in the field, including the characterization of the quantum network capacity region, and the design of throughput-optimal policies.