Coordinating Time-Critical Quantum Operations with a Programmable Control Plane

Quantum networks hold the potential to revolutionize secure communication and distributed quantum computing. However, realizing this potential requires a control plane capable of meeting the demands of quantum systems, including precise timing, protocol heterogeneity, and programmability. Classical network control architectures fall short due to the no-cloning theorem, the fragility of quantum states, and the tight synchronization constraints inherent in protocols such as entanglement swapping. In this work, we propose a novel quantum control plane design that integrates a structured quantum Yet-Another-Next-Generation (YANG) data model and leverages Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) components to support both centralized control and agent-based control patterns. We evaluate both patterns under network jitter and clock drift using numerical simulations, identifying key trade-offs in timing precision and robustness. We further demonstrate the applicability of our design through the case study of entanglement swapping, a representative protocol that is sensitive to synchronization. Our findings highlight how control patterns can shape the design of time-aware and scalable quantum network architectures.