  Quantum networks are complex systems formed by the interaction among quantum
processors through quantum channels. Analogous to classical computer networks,
quantum networks allow for the distribution of quantum computation among
quantum computers. In this work, we describe a quantum walk protocol to perform
distributed quantum computing in a quantum network. The protocol uses a quantum
walk as a quantum control signal to perform distributed quantum operations. We
consider a generalization of the discrete-time coined quantum walk model that
accounts for the interaction between a quantum walker system in the network
graph with quantum registers inside the network nodes. The protocol logically
captures distributed quantum computing, abstracting hardware implementation and
the transmission of quantum information through channels. Control signal
transmission is mapped to the propagation of the walker system across the
network, while interactions between the control layer and the quantum registers
are embedded into the application of coin operators. We demonstrate how to use
the quantum walker system to perform a distributed CNOT operation, which shows
the universality of the protocol for distributed quantum computing.
Furthermore, we apply the protocol to the task of entanglement distribution in
a quantum network.
