How does the study of multipartite entanglement in quantum networks contribute to the development of quantum internet, and what are the major technical hurdles in realizing this vision?

Multipartite entanglement in quantum networks enables secure communication, distributed quantum computing, and enhanced metrology. The study of such entanglement focuses on creating and maintaining entangled states across multiple nodes, which is essential for the development of a quantum internet. Major technical hurdles include generating and distributing high-fidelity entangled states over long distances, dealing with decoherence and noise in quantum channels, and developing robust quantum repeaters. Advancements in quantum error correction, entanglement purification, and scalable quantum communication protocols are critical for overcoming these challenges and realizing a functional quantum internet.