In order to bring quantum networks into the real world, we would like to determine the requirements of quantum network protocols including the underlying quantum hardware. Because detailed architecture proposals are generally too complex for mathematical analysis, it is natural to employ numerical simulation. Here we introduce NetSquid, the NETwork Simulator for QUantum Information using Discrete events, a discrete-event based platform for simulating all aspects of quantum networks and modular quantum computing systems, ranging from the physical layer and its control plane up to the application level. We study several use cases to showcase NetSquid’s power, including detailed physical layer simulations of repeater chains based on nitrogen vacancy centres in diamond as well as atomic ensembles. We also study the control plane of a quantum switch beyond its analytically known regime, and showcase NetSquid’s ability to investigate large networks by simulating entanglement distribution over a chain of up to one thousand nodes.

为了将量子网络带入现实世界，我们想确定包括底层量子硬件在内的量子网络协议的要求。由于详细的架构建议对于数学分析来说通常过于复杂，因此采用数值模拟是很自然的。在这里，我们介绍 NetSquid，使用离散事件的量子信息网络模拟器，这是一个基于离散事件的平台，用于模拟量子网络和模块化量子计算系统的各个方面，从物理层及其控制平面到应用程序级别。我们研究了几个用例来展示 NetSquid 的强大功能，包括基于金刚石和原子集合中的氮空位中心的中继链的详细物理层模拟。