Terminology

Network

Note: this file is an early design document, so some of the terminology has likely changed.

• A network is a set of connected nodes that all use the same error management technology, connected via links.

Node

A node:

• attaches to one or more quantum channels
• has a single, unified classical controller

A node may be one of three types:

• (E) End node: Has exactly one interface.
• (R) Repeater: built from exactly one line card, with exactly two interfaces, internally homogeneous device, internal operations all done via local gates; may incorporate H-O-M device, or may not.
• (X) Router: two or more line cards, connected via optical backplane; heterogeneous Bell pairs may be created between line cards.

Note that the following are not nodes:

• (S) Standalone entangled photon pair source (EPPS).
• (B) Standalone Bell State Analyzer (BSA).

Those two devices, when they exist, are incorporated into the model of a link. They can stand alone, or be incorporated into a router QNIC or a repeater.

Link

A link is a point-to-point system for creating entanglement.

A link may include the H-O-M entangler or EPPS.

Module

Nodes and links are built from modules:

• Dur-Briegel QNIC
• Fowler QNIC
• Jiang QNIC
• Bell State Analyzer (e.g., a Hong-Ou-Mandel dip detection setup)
• Entangled photon pair source (EPPS)
• Switch (Crossbar)
• Wavelength conversion (not modeled here)
• Channel
• Couplers (passive sources of loss)

Modules are built from components.

Component

Hardware components. TBD.