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Feasibility of logical Bell state generation in memory assisted quantum networks

Vladlen Galetsky1, Nilesh Vyas2, Alberto Comin2, and Janis Nötzel1

Phys. Rev. Research 7, 033090 – Published 25 July, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/rsrk-c7yg

Abstract

This study explores the feasibility of utilizing quantum error correction to generate and store logical Bell states in heralded quantum entanglement protocols, crucial for quantum repeater networks. Two lattice surgery-based protocols (local and nonlocal) are introduced to establish logical Bell states between distant nodes using an intermediary node. We simulate the protocols using realistic experimental parameters, including ion trap memories, noisy optical channels, frequency conversion, and nondestructive detection of photonic qubits. The study evaluates rotated and planar surface codes alongside Bacon-Shor codes for small code distances (d=3,5) under depolarizing and physical noise models. Pseudothresholds are identified, with physical error rates above perr∼10−3 offering no advantage over unencoded Bell states under depolarizing noise. Pseudo-thresholds are also reevaluated in terms of gate error rates perrH, perrCX, and perrM. For a distance of 1 km between the end node and the intermediary, an advantage over unencoded Bell-state heralded protocols requires reducing gate error rates by an order of magnitude (0.1perrH, 0.1perrCX, and 0.1perrM). These results highlight the need for significant hardware improvements to implement logical Bell state protocols with quantum memories. Additionally, the nonlocal protocol rate was analyzed achieving rates up to (32.53±1.53)Hz over distances of 1 to 80km between the end node and the intermediary node.

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