Software Architecture for Operation and Use of Quantum Communications Networks

Quantum Communications Networks using the properties of qubits, namely state superposition, no-cloning and entanglement, can enable the exchange of information in a very secure manner across optical links or free space. New innovations enable the use of optical repeaters as well as multi-cast communication in the networks. Some types of quantum communications mechanisms can be implemented at room-temperature instead of requiring super-cooled systems. This makes it likely that business impact from quantum communications will be realized sooner than that from quantum computers. Quantum networks need to be integrated into the ecosystem of currently deployed classical networks and augment them with new capabilities. Classical computers and networks need to be able to use the new secure communication capabilities offered by quantum networks. To provide this interoperability, appropriate software abstractions on the usage of quantum networks need to be developed. In this paper, we examine what the type of software abstractions quantum networks can provide, and the type of applications that the new abstractions can support.