Increasing the classical data throughput in quantum networks by combining quantum linear network coding with superdense coding

Abstract: This paper shows how network coding and superdense coding can be combined to increase the classical data throughput by a factor $2-\epsilon$ (for arbitrarily small $\epsilon > 0$) compared to the maximum that could be achieved using either network coding or superdense coding alone. Additionally, a general decomposition of a ``mixed'' network (i.e., consisting of classical and quantum links) is given, and it is reasoned that, owing to the inherent hardness of finding network codes, this may well lead to an increase in classical data throughput in practise, should a scenario arise in which quantum networks are used to transfer classical information.