On the Swapping Capacity of a Quantum Repeater

Abstract

We study the capacity of a memory-based quantum repeater in entanglement swapping between two quantum links with either single or multiple memories, which we refer to as the end-to-end (E2E) entanglement throughput, subject to a constraint on the minimum fidelity. In order to approximate the E2E entanglement throughput, we adopt queueing models, where quantum links can have different characteristics: memory capacities, entanglement attempt rates and success probabilities, as well as classical communication latencies. We develop a model for estimating E2E entanglement fidelity, while taking into account the heterogeneous dephasing and depolarizing dynamics of quantum memories and Bell-state measurements in entanglement swapping as well as classical communication delays and noises. Finally, with the help of our models for approximating the E2E entanglement throughput and fidelity, we use the maximum waiting times of entanglements in quantum memories at the repeater as optimization variables to maximize the E2E entanglement throughput while ensuring required minimum E2E fidelity.