- Open Access
Remote Entanglement Generation Via Enhanced Quantum State Transfer
PRX Quantum 7, 010348 – Published 10 March, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/4x8d-cmyx
Abstract
Achieving robust and scalable remote quantum entanglement is one of the fundamental challenges for the development of distributed quantum networks and modular quantum computing systems. In this context, perfect state transfer (PST) and fractional state transfer (FST) have emerged as promising schemes for quantum state transfer and remote entanglement generation using only nearest-neighbor couplings. In this work, we propose a quantum state transfer scheme based on a zig-zag configuration, which introduces a control parameter for PST and FST. We show that this new parameter can suppress the population in the intermediate qubits, thereby reducing losses and enhancing state transfer. In certain limiting cases, our new scheme reduces to the conventional PST scheme, revealing an elegant mathematical structure inherent in the design. We experimentally demonstrate our proposed scheme on a superconducting quantum processor, achieving an 18% reduction in error for remote Bell state generation in a 1D () qubit chain with enhanced robustness to specific noise channels. Furthermore, we extend our approach to a 2D () network and successfully generate a state among the four corner qubits. These results highlight the potential of our new enhanced quantum state transfer scheme for scalable and noise-resilient quantum communication and computing.
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
Popular Summary
Many quantum computing tasks require creating entanglement between qubits that are not next to each other. A promising way to do this is quantum state transfer: by engineering couplings in a chain or lattice of qubits, an excitation can move coherently from one site to another, and at intermediate times it can be shared between distant sites to generate entanglement.
In this work we design and experimentally demonstrate protocols for perfect and fractional quantum state transfer in superconducting qubit networks. Our approach forms a parameterized family of Hamiltonians that interpolates between the standard perfect-transfer model and a regime where every other site becomes effectively inactive. In the latter case, the dynamics largely avoids the “inactive” qubits, which reduces the impact of local noise and improves robustness during the transfer.
We implement these protocols on superconducting processors in one-dimensional chains (3 and 5 qubits) and in a two-dimensional subarray of a larger chip. Using fractional transfer, we demonstrate remote entanglement generation, including a Bell state in 1D and a state in 2D. Our results provide a practical route to long-range entanglement generation and connectivity in scalable superconducting quantum processors.
Article Text
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