Q2NS Demo: A Quantum Network Simulator Based on ns-3

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Mazza, Francesco, Pearson, Adam, Caleffi, Marcello, Cacciapuoti, Angela Sara
Format: Preprint
Published: 2026
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author Mazza, Francesco
Pearson, Adam
Caleffi, Marcello
Cacciapuoti, Angela Sara
author_facet Mazza, Francesco
Pearson, Adam
Caleffi, Marcello
Cacciapuoti, Angela Sara
contents Q2NS is an open-source quantum network simulator built on ns-3, the de facto standard for classical network simulation. By inheriting ns-3's mature classical stack and event-driven execution model, Q2NS enables faithful co-simulation of quantum-network dynamics and classical signaling, a core requirement for the functioning of any quantum network. Its modular architecture is designed for extensibility, with pluggable quantum-state backends (state-vector, density matrix, stabilizer) and a clean separation between network control and node-level operations. Q2NS comes with a quantum network visualizer Q2NSViz, supporting interactive inspection of both physical- and entanglement-induced connectivity graphs, helping users interpret protocol behavior and entanglement manipulation processes. We present a demonstration of Q2NS, highlighting its ability to capture and simulate the coexistence of quantum and classical communication. The proposed demonstration presents quantum communication scenarios of increasing complexity: from entanglement distribution basics to multipartite graph-state manipulation, complemented by pre-loaded examples in Q2NSViz that require no prior quantum communication or coding experience.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2604_02112
institution arXiv
publishDate 2026
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Q2NS Demo: A Quantum Network Simulator Based on ns-3
Mazza, Francesco
Pearson, Adam
Caleffi, Marcello
Cacciapuoti, Angela Sara
Quantum Physics
Networking and Internet Architecture
Q2NS is an open-source quantum network simulator built on ns-3, the de facto standard for classical network simulation. By inheriting ns-3's mature classical stack and event-driven execution model, Q2NS enables faithful co-simulation of quantum-network dynamics and classical signaling, a core requirement for the functioning of any quantum network. Its modular architecture is designed for extensibility, with pluggable quantum-state backends (state-vector, density matrix, stabilizer) and a clean separation between network control and node-level operations. Q2NS comes with a quantum network visualizer Q2NSViz, supporting interactive inspection of both physical- and entanglement-induced connectivity graphs, helping users interpret protocol behavior and entanglement manipulation processes. We present a demonstration of Q2NS, highlighting its ability to capture and simulate the coexistence of quantum and classical communication. The proposed demonstration presents quantum communication scenarios of increasing complexity: from entanglement distribution basics to multipartite graph-state manipulation, complemented by pre-loaded examples in Q2NSViz that require no prior quantum communication or coding experience.
title Q2NS Demo: A Quantum Network Simulator Based on ns-3
topic Quantum Physics
Networking and Internet Architecture
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.02112