Q2NSViz: An Open-source Standalone Visualizer for Quantum Network Simulations

Abstract

The unique and non-classical features of quantum networks make their simulation and intuitive understanding inherently difficult. In this work, we present Q2NSViz, an open-source Python-based visualization tool for replaying and inspecting quantum-network simulation traces. Q2NSViz reconstructs the time evolution of the simulated network state, including physical topology, stored and in-flight qubits, classical bits and packets, measurements, and entanglement relationships. In this way, it exposes not only physical connectivity, but also the dynamic entanglement-induced structure produced, consumed, and transformed by protocol execution. Q2NSViz is built around a decoupled JSON/NDJSON trace contract, a Qt-free replay engine, and an interactive PyQt6 interface, making it a standalone companion to Q2NS and reusable by other simulation backends that emit the same trace format. By turning execution traces into navigable and reproducible visual artifacts, Q2NSViz provides a zero-coding tool for researchers and educators, narrowing the gap between abstract protocol logic and concrete execution.