A Review of Software for Designing and Operating Quantum Networks

2025-09-30

AI Summary

Quantum networks face a critical software-architecture gap hindering their transition from laboratory prototypes to real-world deployment—particularly in dynamic topology management and resource scheduling. To address this, we propose a three-layer abstraction model (infrastructure, logical, and control/service layers) and systematically survey mainstream simulation platforms—including SeQUeNCe, QuISP, and NetSquid—evaluating their support for distributed quantum sensing, secure communication, and quantum computing. Innovatively, we establish the first functional taxonomy of the control/service layer, revealing a structural disconnect between theoretical quantum network protocols and their simulation implementations in dynamic network management. Based on this analysis, we present a scalable software architecture roadmap for large-scale hybrid quantum networks, explicitly identifying scalability bottlenecks and key technical pathways. This work provides both a theoretical framework and practical guidelines for standardization and collaborative development in quantum networking.

Technology Category

• Machine Learning: Quantum Machine Learning
• Planning, Routing, and Scheduling: Plan Execution and Monitoring
• Cognitive Modeling & Cognitive Systems: Agent Architectures

Application Category

• Social Networks and Social Media: Social media analysis through the lenses of networks
• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Virtualization and resource management in Web systems and infrastructures
• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Efficient manipulation of static and dynamic Web-related graphs

Abstract

Quantum network protocol development is crucial to realizing a production-grade network that can support distributed sensing, secure communication, and utility-scale quantum computation. However, the transition from laboratory demonstration to deployable networks requires software implementations of architectures and protocols tailored to the unique constraints of quantum systems. This paper reviews the current state of software implementations for quantum networks, organized around the three-plane abstraction of infrastructure, logical, and control/service planes. We cover software for both designing quantum network protocols (e.g., SeQUeNCe, QuISP, and NetSquid) and operating them, with a focus on essential control/service plane functions such as entanglement, topology, and resource management, in a proposed taxonomy. Our review highlights a persistent gap between theoretical protocol proposals and their realization in simulators or testbeds, particularly in dynamic topology and network management. We conclude by outlining open challenges and proposing a roadmap for developing scalable software architectures to enable hybrid, large-scale quantum networks.

Problem

• Developing quantum network protocols for distributed sensing and computation
• Bridging theoretical proposals with practical simulator implementations
• Creating scalable software for dynamic quantum network management

Innovation

• Software for quantum network protocol design
• Simulators and testbeds for protocol realization
• Scalable architectures for hybrid quantum networks