Quantum Internet: from Communication to Distributed Computing! (1805.04360v1)

Abstract: In this invited paper, the authors discuss the exponential computing speed-up achievable by interconnecting quantum computers through a quantum internet. They also identify key future research challenges and open problems for quantum internet design and deployment.

• The paper explores how connecting quantum computers via a quantum internet can enable distributed computing, significantly advancing computational power beyond single-device limitations.
• Deploying a quantum internet involves significant challenges, including managing device connectivity, infrastructure complexity, and delays introduced by processes like teleportation.
• A true quantum internet must leverage quantum phenomena to manage and transmit quantum information, potentially revolutionizing computer system organization and network paradigms beyond simple encryption applications.

Quantum Internet: Advancing from Communication to Distributed Computing

The paper "Quantum Internet: from Communication to Distributed Computing!" delineates the transformative potential of connecting quantum computers via a quantum internet for advancing computational capabilities. Authored by Marcello Caleffi, Angela Sara Cacciapuoti, and Giuseppe Bianchi, the document outlines critical considerations and challenges that must be addressed for the successful deployment and utilization of a quantum internet as a robust network connecting distributed quantum resources.

Quantum computing, grounded in quantum mechanics, allows for tackling certain classes of problems much more efficiently than classical computing. Highlighting advances such as Google's 72-qubit processor and other leading contributions from tech giants like IBM and Alibaba, the paper outlines how these advancements demonstrate the engineering phase of quantum computing development. With quantum states represented by qubits enabling superpositions, quantum computing exhibits exponential scaling of computational power.

The pivotal focus of the paper concerns scaling up the number of interconnected qubits beyond the limitations of current technologies, which restrict quantum devices to only tens of qubits. A quantum internet facilitates distributed quantum computing, thereby enabling multiple devices to work cooperatively and trade off isolated qubit states for shared computations via quantum teleportation. This promotes quantum supremacy and exponentially accelerates computational processes. The role of entanglement in creating a quantum internet is explored, emphasizing the foundational principle that quantum particles can exist in interconnected states across vast distances.

However, several formidable challenges accompany these prospective advancements. The paper underscores that quantum devices exhibit connectivity constraints in their architecture that must be efficiently managed through mapping strategies to minimize operational overhead. This situation parallels the concerns in distributed quantum computing, where teleportation introduces inherent time delays. Consequently, infrastructure and operational efficiencies in this area are critical, as seen by initiatives such as IBM's challenge focusing on swap operation minimization.

Furthermore, the infrastructure required to support a quantum internet entails significant complexity due to the physics of quantum mechanics, with diverse technology platforms for matter qubits necessitating resilient matter-flying interfaces. This leads to another core issue: designing network concepts dictated by quantum mechanics necessitates innovative approaches beyond classical internet paradigms. Problems such as no-cloning and mandatory measurement constraints need novel architectures for network functionality, which will be crucial for the scalability and integration of quantum networks.

The authors note that the quantum internet must not be confined to specific applications such as Quantum Key Distribution, which primarily involves conventional communications for encrypted data. Instead, it requires the conception of an internet harnessing quantum phenomena to securely manage and transmit quantum information. This perspective points toward novel research avenues for quantum networks, which may significantly impact computer systems organization and networks, fundamentally shifting prevailing paradigms toward a more capable Internet structure.

Speculating on the future impacts of such developments, enhanced distributed quantum computing could redefine multiple industries ranging from manufacturing to machine learning, optimizing complex processes far beyond current capabilities. Progress within these domains not only aligns with theoretical advances in quantum mechanics but also recognizes practical constraints and opportunities that guide future efforts in quantum internet architecture and deployment.