Definition and effectiveness evaluation of an analytical model for the dimensioning of memory in quantum switches

Quantum switches are envisioned to be an integral component of future entanglement distribution networks. They can provide high quality entanglement distribution service to end-users by performing quantum operations such as entanglement swapping and entanglement purification. In this paper we propose an analytical model for the dimensioning of the Quantum Memory resources in quantum switches interconnecting users with fiber links. The models allows for the evaluation of the probabilities of the Quantum Memory number when the blocking probability of establishing end-to-end entanglement is fixed. By means of the analytical model we are able to evaluate the impact on the number of quantum memory of the main traffic and switch parameters: number of users, success probability of required end-to-end entanglements between any couple of users, swapping and entanglement success probability, threshold fidelity and probability of fiber link length. The analytical model is sophisticated and encompasses entanglement purification mechanisms.