Hardware-Validated Optical Quantum Switching on Trapped-Ion Hardware

Research Project, 2026 – 2027

This project aims to experimentally validate models for optical quantum switching in distributed quantum computing using Piast-Q, a 20-qubit trapped-ion quantum processor.

In previous work, we developed QdcEm, a framework for emulating distributed quantum computing in which a physical quantum processor is partitioned into multiple virtual quantum processing units and communication noise is represented using a collision-model approach. The framework has previously been implemented and experimentally validated on superconducting IBM quantum processors.

In this project, the framework will be extended to trapped-ion hardware. Piast-Q will be used to emulate entanglement-distribution paths and remote quantum-gate operations and to investigate how gate and readout errors, coherence, compilation overhead, and timing effects influence memory-assisted optical quantum switching.

The experimental results will be compared with predictions from our simulator, allowing the framework to be validated on a second and physically very different qubit technology. The project will help identify the conditions under which all-photonic or memory-assisted switching is preferable and provide an experimental foundation for the development of optical switching and scheduling strategies for distributed quantum networks.