ExpandQISE: Track 1: Virtual Quantum Networks: From Foundations to Field Tests

ExpandQISE：轨道 1：虚拟量子网络：从基础到现场测试

• 批准号: 2231357
• 负责人: Jianqing Liu
• 金额: $ 80万
• 依托单位: University of Alabama in Huntsville
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2022-09-01 至 2022-11-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2231357&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: ExpandQISE; Track; Virtual; Quantum; Networks

Non-technical Description:This project creates a general-purpose, open-access, and programmable quantum network prototype for the quantum information science and engineering (QISE) community to experiment new quantum technologies and train teachers and students of all majors. The developed new knowledge and prototype have the potential to reduce financial costs through software-based rather than hardware-based solutions, support broad and replicable quantum research and education, build an agile, flexible, and scalable quantum network infrastructure for open and equitable access, and help the U.S. out-compete global competitors in QISE. Moreover, the developed prototype is ideal for QISE training and education through its easy access by teachers and students without requiring their prior knowledge of operating complex quantum hardware. A new curriculum based on this prototype will be further created and disseminated through existing partnership programs to train a large body of college students.Technical Description:Existing quantum network systems are mostly local, small-scale, and application-specific, reminiscent of the era of the internet onset. The future expansion of quantum networks, without thoughtful planning, would inevitably lead to the same pitfalls as the classical internet like network ossification. In this project, the key applied methodology is virtualization that permits rapid and flexible experimentation of new quantum technologies via agile software controls, without resorting to daunting hardware modifications. To this end, the research team initiates a comprehensive research agenda consisting of three thrusts: (1) the team identifies and re-designs key quantum components, e.g., entangled photon sources and detectors, based on which a software architecture is further developed for the proposed virtual quantum network (VQN) prototype. The goal of this thrust is to lay the foundation and create the “skeleton” for the VQN prototype. (2) The team then develops a suite of protocols to improve the efficiency of the VQN prototype. It includes virtual slice placement and traffic routing for network load balance; queuing users' requests for aggregated service and increased network capacity; and network event, e.g., entanglement purification and swapping, scheduling, and control for high-quality virtual services. This thrust’s goal is to functionalize and create the “flesh and blood” of the VQN prototype. (3) The VQN prototype is implemented in a quantum-network testbed and evaluated against several figures of merit. Moreover, two Application Programming Interface (API) interfaces are developed to allow nationwide universities to use this platform for replicable research and educational activities. The goal of this thrust is to perform a quantitative assessment on the VQN prototype and create an open and education-friendly platform for the broad QISE community.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

非技术描述：该项目为量子信息科学与工程（QISE）社区创建一个通用的、开放访问的、可编程的量子网络原型，用于实验新的量子技术并培训各专业的教师和学生开发的新技术。知识和原型有潜力通过基于软件而不是基于硬件的解决方案来降低财务成本，支持广泛且可复制的量子研究和教育，构建敏捷、灵活和可扩展的量子网络基础设施以实现开放和公平的访问，并帮助美国在竞争中胜出此外，所开发的原型非常适合 QISE 培训和教育，教师和学生无需具备操作复杂量子硬件的先验知识，即可通过该原型进一步创建和传播。技术描述：现有的量子网络系统大多是本地的、小规模的、特定于应用的，让人想起互联网时代的到来，对量子网络的未来扩展没有深思熟虑。规划，必然会导致同样的结果在这个项目中，关键的应用方法是虚拟化，它允许通过敏捷的软件控制快速灵活地试验新的量子技术，而无需诉诸令人畏惧的硬件修改。全面的研究议程包括三个重点：（1）团队识别并重新设计关键的量子组件，例如纠缠光子源和探测器，在此基础上进一步开发虚拟量子网络（VQN）的软件架构该项目的目标是为 VQN 原型奠定基础并创建“骨架”。 (2) 然后团队开发一套协议来提高 VQN 原型的效率，其中包括虚拟切片放置和流量。网络负载平衡的路由；对聚合服务和增加网络容量的用户请求进行排队；以及网络事件，例如高质量虚拟服务的纠缠净化和交换、调度和控制。 (3) VQN 原型在量子网络测试平台中实现，并根据多个品质因数进行评估。此外，还开发了两个应用程序编程接口 (API)，以供全国大学使用。使用该平台进行可复制的研究和教育活动。该项目的目标是对 VQN 原型进行定量评估，并为广大的 QISE 社区创建一个开放且有利于教育的平台。该奖项反映了 NSF 的法定使命，并得到了认可。被视为值得通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估来提供支持。