Agenda

1. Administrivia (5 min):

2. Engineering Quantum Connectivity: The Quest For A Paradigm Shift (25 min)

Speaker: Marcello Caleffi

Abstract: Multipartite entanglement -- namely, entanglement shared between more than two parties -- represents a powerful resource for quantum networks. Indeed, multipartite entanglement enables a new form of connectivity, referred to as entanglement-enabled connectivity, which augments the connectivity enabled by the physical topology with artificial links between pairs of remote nodes -- i.e., nodes that are not neighbor in the physical topology -- without any additional physical link deployment. Thus, multipartite entanglement enables a richer, dynamic overlay topology, referred to as "artificial topology", upon the physical one.

Bio: Marcello Caleffi co-leads the Quantum Internet research group at University of Naples Federico II. His work appeared in top-tier IEEE Transactions and Journals, and he received multiple awards, including the IEEE Communications Society “Best Tutorial Paper Award” 2022 and the IEEE Communications Society “Award for Advances in Communication” 2024.
Currently, he serves as editor for IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, IEEE Transactions on Communications, IEEE Transactions on Quantum Engineering, IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society and IEEE Internet Computing. In 2017, he has been appointed as distinguished lecturer from the IEEE Computer Society and, in 2023, he has been appointed as distinguished lecturer from the IEEE Communications Society.

Speaker: Piotr Rydlichowski

Abstract: The presentation focuses on EuroQCI network deployments and challenges with the installation and integration of QKD devices in operational network environment. Based on PIONIER-Q, Polish QCI network, experience with single photon devices is presented and discussed. Challenges with Key Management Network design, deployment, implementation and integration will be discussed. EuroQCI national QCI networks are first step to larger scale adoption of single photon devices and evolution toward general quantum communication schemes and systems based on entanglement based devices. Number of existing QKD use cases and application can be scaled and adopted for future general quantum communication systems.

Bio: Piotr Rydlichowski graduated at Poznan University of Technology in Electronics and Telecommunication. During PhD studies at Poznan University of Technology his research focused on electromagnetic wave theory and techniques, numerical procedures for simulation. Since 2008 joined Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center affiliated by the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences. His focus is on new technologies in optical data transmission systems and its implementation in National Research and Education Network environment. Since 2016 responsible for quantum technologies projects at PSNC - quantum computing and communication. Involved in EuroQCI and EuroQCS activities. Participates in national and European projects focused on new optical networking technologies, quantum key distribution, global navigation systems simulation, reference time and frequency transmission

4. Vision of QUANT-NET project and opportunities for standardization (25 min)

Speaker: Inder Monga

Abstract: Quantum networks are envisioned to achieve novel capabilities that are provably impossible using classical networks and could be transformative to science, economy, and national security. These novel capabilities range from cryptography, sensing and metrology, distributed systems, to secure quantum cloud computing. Today, quantum networks are in their infancy. Like the Internet, quantum networks are expected to undergo different stages of research and development until they reach a level of practical functionality.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is funding a collaborative effort involving Berkeley Lab (LBNL), UC Berkeley (UCB), Caltech, and the University of Innsbruck to develop a quantum networking testbed known as QUANT-NET. This initiative aims to establish a testbed network between LBNL and UCB, utilizing an entanglement swapping substrate over approximately 5 km of optical fiber, managed by a quantum network protocol stack. The project will implement foundational elements of distributed quantum computing and quantum repeaters, including the teleportation of a controlled-NOT gate between two distant trapped-ion quantum computation nodes.

In this presentation, I will first outline the vision and current status of the QUANT-NET project. Subsequently, I will explore the opportunities for standardizing quantum network protocols, which are crucial for the future interoperability and scalability of quantum networks.

Bio: Inder Monga is the Director of Berkeley Lab’s Scientific Networking Division and Executive Director of Energy Sciences Network (ESnet), the Department of Energy’s high-performance network user facility. Optimized for large-scale science, ESnet connects and provides services to more than 50 DOE research sites, including national laboratories, supercomputing facilities, and scientific instruments, as well as peers with 270+ research and commercial networks worldwide. In addition to managing ESnet, he is the principal investigator for the Quantum Application Network Testbed for Novel Entanglement Technology (QUANT-NET) project and co-PI of the National Science Foundation’s FABRIC testbed. Inder holds 25 patents.

5. Control-plane stack and two-level scheduler with network layers and protocols being developed at QUANT-NET (25 min)

Speaker: Wenji Wu

Abstract: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) currently supports Berkeley Lab (LBNL), UC Berkeley (UCB), Caltech, and the University of Innsbruck in constructing a testbed for quantum networking technologies (QUANT-NET). The goal is to establish a testbed network between LBNL and UCB, where both sites are connected with an entanglement swapping substrate over ∼5 km optical fiber and managed by a quantum network protocol stack. On top of this entanglement swapping substrate the research team will implement the most basic building blocks of distributed quantum computing and quantum repeaters by teleporting a controlled-NOT gate between two far trapped-ion quantum computation nodes. Quantum network control is a major research area of the QUANT-NET project. We strive to: (i) build a quantum network control plane to orchestrate and manage all the physical layer technologies, and (ii) explore what a quantum network control plane should look like in the future, so as to automate high-rate and high-fidelity entanglement generation, distribution, and storage in an efficient, reliable, and cost-effective way. To these ends, we have designed a two-level control framework for quantum networks. Within such a framework, a two-level scheduler has been implemented to support TDMA-like (Time Division Multiple Access) scheduling, network-wide non-real-time control, and node-wide real-time control. This two-level control framework and the scheduler have been designed to address the basic needs for quantum network control. In addition, the implementation of the control plane adopts a modular and extensible framework that allows user-defined plugins. The control framework and the scheduler are not only designed specifically for the QUANT-NET testbed, but can also be extended to support other types of quantum networks. In this talk, I will present the two-level control framework and the scheduler. I will first discuss the basic needs of a quantum network control plane. Next, I will present the design and implementation of the two-level control framework and the scheduler.

Bio: Dr. Wenji Wu is a network research engineer in Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Scientific Networking Division, where he works on quantum networks, high-speed networking, and distributed systems for QUANT-NET and for ESnet's Testbeds & Prototypes group.
Dr. Wu is the PI on two DOE network research projects, the MDTM project and the BigData Express project. These two projects are targeted at providing schedulable, predictable, and high-performance data transfer service for DOE’s large-scale science computing facilities and their collaborators.
His recent research focuses on quantum networks. He is currently working on the QUANT-NET project, which aims to build a three-node quantum network testbed in Berkeley area. His roles in the project are (1) quantum network architecture and protocol stack research and development and (2) quantum network real-time control system research and development.

Total: 105 minutes