Modeling and simulation of space-based entanglement distribution

In this talk we present a model for analyzing space-based entanglement distribution links. In particular, we analyze deterministic entanglement distribution links relevant to quantum communication applications where all communication nodes must be synchronized with deterministic photon arrival times. The focus is on systems operating within practical limitations set by current technology. The architectures studied in this work are based on all-photonic links with probabilistic (memory-less) entanglement swapping used to signal the success of the entanglement distribution without destroying the entangled state. An end-to-end link model is described which accounts for satellite orbital mechanics as well as the physical effects of entangled photon pair sources, space-to-ground atmospheric channels, two-photon interference, pointing and tracking, and photon counting detectors with and without photon number resolution (this is joint work with Robert Manning, Ian Nemitz, and Bryan Welch).