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Quantum cloning is the process that takes an arbitrary, unknown quantum state and makes an exact copy without altering the original state in any way. In Dirac notation, the process of quantum cloning is described by:

$U\left|\psi {⟩}_A\right|e{⟩}_B=\left|\psi {⟩}_A\right|\psi {⟩}_B$,

where $U$ is the actual cloning operation, $|\psi {⟩}_A$ is the state to be cloned, and $|e{⟩}_B$ is the initial state of the copy.

Quantum cloning is forbidden by the laws of quantum mechanics as shown by the no cloning theorem, which states that there is no $U$ that can perform the cloning operation for any arbitrary state $|\psi {⟩}_A$. Though perfect quantum cloning is not possible, it is possible to perform imperfect cloning, where the copies have a non-unit fidelity with the state being cloned.

The quantum cloning operation is the best way to make copies of quantum information therefore cloning is an important task in quantum information processing, especially in the context of quantum cryptography. Researchers are seeking ways to build quantum cloning machines, which work at the so-called quantum limit. The first cloning machine relied on stimulated emission to copy quantum information encoded into single photons. Teleportation, nuclear magnetic resonance, quantum amplification and superior phase conjugation have been some other methods utilized to realize a quantum cloning machine.

References

• V. Buzek and M. Hillery, Quantum cloning, Physics World 14 (11) (2001), pp. 25–29.
• Antía Lamas-Linares, Christoph Simon, John C. Howell, Dik Bouwmeester, Experimental Quantum Cloning of Single Photons, Science 296 5568 (2002)
• Zhao Zhi, Zhang An-Ning, Zhou Xiao-Qi, Chen Yu-Ao, Lu Chao-Yang, Karlsson Anders, Pan Jian-Wei, Experimental Realization of Optimal Asymmetric Cloning and Telecloning via Partial Teleportation, Phys. Rev. Lett 95 030502 (2005)
• Cummins Holly K., Jones Claire, Furze Alistair, Soffe Nicholas F., Mosca Michele, Peach Josephine M., Jones Jonathan A., Approximate Quantum Cloning with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Phys. Rev. Lett 88 187901 (2002)
• Samuel L. Braunstein, Nicolas J. Cerf, Sofyan Iblisdir, Peter van Loock, and Serge Massar Optimal Cloning of Coherent States with a Linear Amplifier and Beam Splitters, Phys. Rev. Lett 86 4938 (2001)
• Metin Sabuncu, Ulrik L. Andersen, and Gerd Leuchs Experimental Demonstration of Continuous Variable Cloning with Phase-Conjugate Inputs, Phys. Rev. Lett 98 170503 (2007)

See also

• No-cloning theorem
• No-broadcast theorem
• Quantum no-deleting theorem