Simplified entanglement swapping protocol for the quantum Internet

Area of Science:

• Quantum Information Science
• Quantum Communication Networks
• Quantum Repeaters

Background:

• Quantum networks require quantum repeaters to extend communication range, especially over optical fibers.
• Entanglement swapping is a key protocol for quantum repeater implementation.
• Traditional entanglement swapping protocols often involve complex unitary transforms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a simplified entanglement-swapping protocol for practical quantum network deployment.
• To reduce the complexity and cost associated with quantum repeater implementations.

Main Methods:

• Developed a simplified entanglement-swapping protocol, omitting unitary transforms for Bell state characterization.
• Conducted theoretical demonstrations of the protocol's feasibility.
• Performed experimental validation using an optical table setup with two key experiments.

Main Results:

• The simplified protocol effectively characterizes the shared Bell state without unitary transforms.
• Both theoretical and experimental results demonstrate the protocol's excellent performance.
• The simplified approach facilitates and reduces costs in quantum repeater implementations.

Conclusions:

• The presented simplified entanglement-swapping protocol offers a more accessible and cost-effective solution for quantum networks.
• This protocol advancement can accelerate the deployment and scalability of quantum communication infrastructure.
• The experimental validation confirms the practical viability of the simplified protocol.