Different from qubit-based quantum computing, optical quantum communication relies on bosonic modes to generate entangled states for long-distance transmission, without the need for universal gate sets. Thus, we require methods that can tolerate photon loss, imperfect entanglement generation, and heterogeneous device noise, while remaining practical for near-term testbeds and scalable to future large networks. InterQnet adopts a layered approach to error management: (1) lightweight error detection via Pauli Check Sandwiching (PCS) and post-selection, (2) resource-aware strategies that leverage gauge freedom to simplify correction, (3) entanglement distillation protocols that convert multiple noisy Bell pairs into fewer high-fidelity ones, and (4) advanced quantum LDPC (qLDPC) and bosonic codes that enable scalable, fault-tolerant entanglement purification. Together, these techniques form a hierarchy that links the device-level realities of Thrust 1 to the architectural protocols of Thrust 3, and they map naturally onto the two project goals: enabling practical demonstrations in InterQnet-Achieve and guiding at-scale design choices in InterQnet-Scale.
