Quantum repeaters: From quantum networks to the quantum internet

Abstract

A quantum internet is the holy grail of quantum information processing, enabling the deployment of a broad range of quantum technologies and protocols on a global scale. However, numerous challenges must be addressed before the quantum internet can become a reality. Perhaps the most crucial of these is the realization of a quantum repeater, an essential component in the long-distance transmission of quantum information. As the analog of a classical repeater, extender, or booster, the quantum repeater works to overcome loss and noise in the quantum channels constituting a quantum network. Here the conceptual frameworks and architectures for quantum repeaters, as well as the experimental progress toward their realization, are reviewed. Various near-term proposals to overcome the limits to the communication rates set by point-to-point quantum communication are also discussed. Finally, the manner in which quantum repeaters fit within the broader challenge of designing and implementing a quantum internet is overviewed.