Hybrid-system approach to fault-tolerant quantum communication

We present a layered hybrid-system approach to quantum communication that involves the distribution of a topological cluster state throughout a quantum network. Photon loss and other errors are suppressed by optical multiplexing and entanglement purification. The scheme is scalable to large distances, achieving an end-to-end rate of 1 kHz with around 50 qubits per node. We suggest a potentially suitable implementation of an individual node composed of erbium spins (single atom or ensemble) coupled via flux qubits to a microwave resonator, allowing for deterministic local gates, stable quantum memories, and emission of photons in the telecom regime.