Model-Driven Digital Twin Framework for Quantum Networks
TL;DR
This paper argues that model-driven engineering can provide a systematic basis for integrating and evolving these heterogeneous artefacts across heterogeneous physical platforms, simulators, protocols, and architectural abstractions and provides a foundation for adaptable and interoperable digital twins for quantum networks.
Abstract
Quantum networks are advancing towards larger and more operational infrastructures, yet their evaluation remains fragmented across heterogeneous physical platforms, simulators, protocols, and architectural abstractions. Current digital-twin studies for quantum networks mainly realise isolated capabilities or application-specific solutions rather than reusable system-level twins. This paper argues that model-driven engineering can provide a systematic basis for integrating and evolving these heterogeneous artefacts. It derives requirements for design-time evaluation, runtime synchronisation, and prescriptive decision-making. It proposes a progression of architectures from code-driven and domain-model-driven solutions to point-to-point and hub-and-spoke integration. A conceptual implementation case study illustrates this using SysML v2, QKD kit, an EMF-based controller, and SeQUeNCe. The work provides a foundation for adaptable and interoperable digital twins for quantum networks.