Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

A photonic quantum simulator for phase covariant cloning

Laura T. Knoll, Ignacio H. López Grande, M. A. Larotonda

Published May 12, 2017• 0 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

We present the results of a linear optics photonic implementation of a quantum circuit that simulates a phase covariant cloner. Input polarization qubit states are cloned into path qubit states of the same photon, which is identified as a potential eavesdropper in a quantum key distribution protocol. The device has the flexibility to simulate optimal and non-optimal cloning machines, as well as mirrored versions that optimally clone states on either the northern or southern hemispheres of the Bloch sphere. We experimentally simulate the effect of a single $1\rightarrow 2$ cloner, as well as the action of a random sequence of the original cloner and its mirrored version. This procedure allows the eavesdropper to mitigate the amount of noise added to the original copy and therefore to mask its presence.

Related papers

Fiber-Optics Implementation of an Asymmetric Phase-Covariant Quantum Cloner

Lucie Bartůšková, Miloslav Dušek, Antonín Černoch +2 more

We present the experimental realization of optimal symmetric and asymmetric phase-covariant 1-->2 cloning of qubit states using fiber optics. The state of each qubit is encoded into a single photon which can propagate through two optical fibers. The operation of our device is based on one- and two-photon interference. We have demonstrated the creation of two copies for a wide range of qubit states from the equator of the Bloch sphere. The measured fidelities of both copies are close to the theoretical values and they surpass the theoretical maximum obtainable with the universal cloner.

arXiv:quant-ph/0612119•Physical Review Letters•Sep 21, 2007•47 citations

Experimental linear-optical implementation of a multifunctional optimal qubit cloner

Karel Lemr, Karol Bartkiewicz, Antonín Černoch +2 more

We present the first experimental implementation of a multifunctional device for the optimal cloning of one to two qubits. Previous implementations have always been designed to optimize the cloning procedure with respect to one single type of a priori information about the cloned state. In contrast, our ``all-in-one'' implementation is optimal for several prominent regimes such as universal cloning, phase-covariant cloning, and also the first ever realized mirror phase-covariant cloning, when the square of the expected value of Pauli's $Z$ operator is known in advance. In all these regimes the experimental device yields clones with almost maximum achievable average fidelity (97.5$%$ of theoretical limit). Our device has a wide range of possible applications in quantum information processing, especially in quantum communication. For instance, one can use it for incoherent and coherent attacks against a variety of cryptographic protocols, including the Bennett-Brassard 1984 protocol of quantum key distribution through the Pauli damping channels. It can be also applied as a state-dependent photon multiplier in practical quantum networks.

arXiv:1201.6234•Physical Review A•May 25, 2012•31 citations

Optimal cloning of arbitrary mirror-symmetric distributions on the Bloch sphere: a proposal for practical photonic realization

Karol Bartkiewicz, Adam Miranowicz

We study state-dependent quantum cloning that can outperform universal cloning (UC).This is possible by using some a priori information on a given quantum state to be cloned.Specifically, we propose a generalization and optical implementation of quantum optimal mirror phase-covariant cloning, which refers to optimal cloning of sets of qubits of known modulus of the expectation value of Pauli's Z operator.Our results can be applied to cloning of an arbitrary mirror-symmetric distribution of qubits on the Bloch sphere including in special cases UC and phase-covariant cloning.We show that the cloning is optimal by adapting our former optimality proof for axisymmetric cloning (Bartkiewicz and Miranowicz 2010 Phys.Rev. A 82 042330).Moreover, we propose an optical realization of the optimal mirror phase-covariant 1 → 2 cloning of a qubit, for which the mean probability of successful cloning varies from 1/6 to 1/3 depending on prior information on the set of qubits to be cloned.The qubits are represented by polarization states of photons generated by the type-I spontaneous parametric down-conversion.The scheme is based on the interference of two photons on an unbalanced polarization-dependent beam splitter with different splitting ratios for vertical and horizontal polarization components and the additional application of feedforward by means of Pockels cells.The experimental feasibility of the proposed setup is carefully studied including various kinds of imperfections and losses.Moreover, we briefly describe two possible cryptographic applications of the optimal mirror phase-covariant cloning corresponding to state discrimination (or estimation) and secure quantum teleportation.

arXiv:1103.5324•Physica Scripta•Feb 1, 2012•4 citations

Several experimental realizations of symmetric phase-covariant quantum cloners of single-photon qubits

Jan Soubusta, Lucie Bartůšková, Antonín Černoch +2 more

We compare several optical implementations of phase-covariant cloning machines. The experiments are based on copying of the polarization state of a single photon in bulk optics by a special unbalanced beam splitter or by a balanced beam splitter accompanied by a state filtering. Also the all-fiber-based setup is discussed, where the information is encoded into spatial modes, i.e., the photon can propagate through two optical fibers. Each of the four implementations possesses some advantages and disadvantages that are discussed.

arXiv:0706.1267•Physical Review A•Oct 11, 2007•32 citations

Optical realization of optimal symmetric universal and phase-covariant quantum cloning

Qing-Min Song, Bao‐Long Fang, Tao Wu +1 more

We propose an experimentally unified linear optical scheme to implement the optimal symmetric one to two (1 → 2) universal, optimal symmetric 1 → 2 phase-covariant and optimal symmetric economical one to three (1 → 3) phase-covariant quantum cloning machines of the polarization state of the single photon. This scheme requires single-photon sources as the input state. Here, we use a laser beam attenuated to the single-photon level as the input source. The scheme relies on one polarized qubit and two location qubits and it also involves linear optical elements. It is shown that under certain conditions, the scheme is feasible by current experimental technology.

Journal of Modern Optics•Jan 18, 2011•0 citations

Experimental asymmetric phase-covariant quantum cloning of polarization qubits

Jan Soubusta, Lucie Bartůšková, Antonín Černoch +2 more

We report on two optical realizations of the $1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2$ asymmetric phase-covariant cloning machines for polarization states of single photons. The experimental setups combine two-photon interference and tunable polarization filtering, which enables us to control the asymmetry of the cloners. The first scheme involves a special unbalanced bulk beam splitter exhibiting different splitting ratios for vertical and horizontal polarizations, respectively. The second implemented scheme consists of a balanced fiber coupler where photon bunching occurs, followed by a free-space part with polarization filters. With this latter approach we were able to demonstrate very high cloning fidelities which are above the universal cloning limit.

arXiv:0810.2635•Physical Review A•Nov 13, 2008•23 citations
We present the results of a linear optics photonic implementation of a quantum circuit that simulates a phase covariant cloner. Input polarization qubit states are cloned into path qubit states of the same photon, which is identified as a potential eavesdropper in a quantum key distribution protocol. The device has the flexibility to simulate optimal and non-optimal cloning machines, as well as mirrored versions that optimally clone states on either the northern or southern hemispheres of the Bloch sphere. We experimentally simulate the effect of a single 1→21\rightarrow 21→2 cloner, as well as the action of a random sequence of the original cloner and its mirrored version. This procedure allows the eavesdropper to mitigate the amount of noise added to the original copy and therefore to mask its presence.
We present the experimental realization of optimal symmetric and asymmetric phase-covariant 1-->2 cloning of qubit states using fiber optics. The state of each qubit is encoded into a single photon which can propagate through two optical fibers. The operation of our device is based on one- and two-photon interference. We have demonstrated the creation of two copies for a wide range of qubit states from the equator of the Bloch sphere. The measured fidelities of both copies are close to the theoretical values and they surpass the theoretical maximum obtainable with the universal cloner.
We present the first experimental implementation of a multifunctional device for the optimal cloning of one to two qubits. Previous implementations have always been designed to optimize the cloning procedure with respect to one single type of a priori information about the cloned state. In contrast, our ``all-in-one'' implementation is optimal for several prominent regimes such as universal cloning, phase-covariant cloning, and also the first ever realized mirror phase-covariant cloning, when the square of the expected value of Pauli's ZZZ operator is known in advance. In all these regimes the experimental device yields clones with almost maximum achievable average fidelity (97.5% of theoretical limit). Our device has a wide range of possible applications in quantum information processing, especially in quantum communication. For instance, one can use it for incoherent and coherent attacks against a variety of cryptographic protocols, including the Bennett-Brassard 1984 protocol of quantum key distribution through the Pauli damping channels. It can be also applied as a state-dependent photon multiplier in practical quantum networks.
We study state-dependent quantum cloning that can outperform universal cloning (UC).This is possible by using some a priori information on a given quantum state to be cloned.Specifically, we propose a generalization and optical implementation of quantum optimal mirror phase-covariant cloning, which refers to optimal cloning of sets of qubits of known modulus of the expectation value of Pauli's Z operator.Our results can be applied to cloning of an arbitrary mirror-symmetric distribution of qubits on the Bloch sphere including in special cases UC and phase-covariant cloning.We show that the cloning is optimal by adapting our former optimality proof for axisymmetric cloning (Bartkiewicz and Miranowicz 2010 Phys.Rev. A 82 042330).Moreover, we propose an optical realization of the optimal mirror phase-covariant 1 → 2 cloning of a qubit, for which the mean probability of successful cloning varies from 1/6 to 1/3 depending on prior information on the set of qubits to be cloned.The qubits are represented by polarization states of photons generated by the type-I spontaneous parametric down-conversion.The scheme is based on the interference of two photons on an unbalanced polarization-dependent beam splitter with different splitting ratios for vertical and horizontal polarization components and the additional application of feedforward by means of Pockels cells.The experimental feasibility of the proposed setup is carefully studied including various kinds of imperfections and losses.Moreover, we briefly describe two possible cryptographic applications of the optimal mirror phase-covariant cloning corresponding to state discrimination (or estimation) and secure quantum teleportation.
We compare several optical implementations of phase-covariant cloning machines. The experiments are based on copying of the polarization state of a single photon in bulk optics by a special unbalanced beam splitter or by a balanced beam splitter accompanied by a state filtering. Also the all-fiber-based setup is discussed, where the information is encoded into spatial modes, i.e., the photon can propagate through two optical fibers. Each of the four implementations possesses some advantages and disadvantages that are discussed.
We propose an experimentally unified linear optical scheme to implement the optimal symmetric one to two (1 → 2) universal, optimal symmetric 1 → 2 phase-covariant and optimal symmetric economical one to three (1 → 3) phase-covariant quantum cloning machines of the polarization state of the single photon. This scheme requires single-photon sources as the input state. Here, we use a laser beam attenuated to the single-photon level as the input source. The scheme relies on one polarized qubit and two location qubits and it also involves linear optical elements. It is shown that under certain conditions, the scheme is feasible by current experimental technology.
We report on two optical realizations of the $1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2$ asymmetric phase-covariant cloning machines for polarization states of single photons. The experimental setups combine two-photon interference and tunable polarization filtering, which enables us to control the asymmetry of the cloners. The first scheme involves a special unbalanced bulk beam splitter exhibiting different splitting ratios for vertical and horizontal polarizations, respectively. The second implemented scheme consists of a balanced fiber coupler where photon bunching occurs, followed by a free-space part with polarization filters. With this latter approach we were able to demonstrate very high cloning fidelities which are above the universal cloning limit.