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Quantum Cloning Machines and the Applications

Heng Fan, Yi-Nan Wang, Jing Li, Jie-Dong Yue, Handuo Shi, Yongliang Zhang, Liang-Zhu Mu

Published Jan 1, 2013• 63 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

No-cloning theorem is fundamental for quantum mechanics and for quantum information science that states an unknown quantum state cannot be cloned perfectly. However, we can try to clone a quantum state approximately with the optimal fidelity, or instead, we can try to clone it perfectly with the largest probability. Thus various quantum cloning machines have been designed for different quantum information protocols. Specifically, quantum cloning machines can be designed to analyze the security of quantum key distribution protocols such as BB84 protocol, six-state protocol, B92 protocol and their generalizations. Some well-known quantum cloning machines include universal quantum cloning machine, phase-covariant cloning machine, the asymmetric quantum cloning machine and the probabilistic quantum cloning machine etc. In the past years, much progress has been made in studying quantum cloning machines and their applications and implementations, both theoretically and experimentally. In this review, we will give a complete description of those important developments about quantum cloning and some related topics. On the other hand, this review is self-consistent, and in particular, we try to present some detailed formulations so that further study can be taken based on those results.

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Optimal, universell kvantkloning

Källstrand, Björn

The no-cloning theorem is one of the fundamental concepts of quantum information theory. It tells us that no general quantum state can be perfectly replicated. In this thesis we introduce the notion of imperfect cloning, and define the properties of the universal cloning machine. Furthermore, we construct an ansatz of how our universal cloning machine should perform as to produce two imperfect clones from one input qubit. We find an optimal fidelity of 5/6 for our universal cloning machine. We then reevaluate our ansatz and construct a class of unitary transformations such that an optimal fidelity is always achieved. Lastly, we present an overview of some applications of imperfect quantum cloning in the field of quantum information.

•Jan 1, 2013•0 citations
No-cloning theorem is fundamental for quantum mechanics and for quantum information science that states an unknown quantum state cannot be cloned perfectly. However, we can try to clone a quantum state approximately with the optimal fidelity, or instead, we can try to clone it perfectly with the largest probability. Thus various quantum cloning machines have been designed for different quantum information protocols. Specifically, quantum cloning machines can be designed to analyze the security of quantum key distribution protocols such as BB84 protocol, six-state protocol, B92 protocol and their generalizations. Some well-known quantum cloning machines include universal quantum cloning machine, phase-covariant cloning machine, the asymmetric quantum cloning machine and the probabilistic quantum cloning machine etc. In the past years, much progress has been made in studying quantum cloning machines and their applications and implementations, both theoretically and experimentally. In this review, we will give a complete description of those important developments about quantum cloning and some related topics. On the other hand, this review is self-consistent, and in particular, we try to present some detailed formulations so that further study can be taken based on those results.
This chapter begins by providing proofs of no-cloning and no-broadcasting theorems. No-cloning theorem makes it possible to detect any eavesdropper on a quantum communication channel. The chapter presents the features of some of the quantum cloning machines. In spite of the no-cloning theorem, it is quite possible to construct a quantum cloning machine which copies an unknown state approximately. A probabilistic cloning machine has been proposed which can succeed only with a probability. When it succeeds it will give a perfect copy. This probabilistic quantum cloning is much useful in studying the B92 quantum key distribution protocol which involves only two non-orthogonal states and we can try to clone it with the largest probability. A telecloning scheme combines cloning with teleportation. A quantum telecloning system for two-level system in which one input is sent to M-receivers has been proposed. The no-hiding theorem is found to have applications in black hole evaporation, quantum teleportation and private quantum channels.
After a brief introduction to the quantum no-cloning theorem and its link with the linearity and causality of quantum mechanics, the concept of quantum cloning machines is sketched, following, whenever possible, the chronology of the main results. The important classes of quantum cloning machines are reviewed, in particular state-independent and state-dependent cloning machines. The 1-to-2 cloning problem is then studied from a formal point of view, using the isomorphism between completely positive maps and operators, which leads to the so-called double-Bell ansatz. This also yields an efficient numerical approach to quantum cloning, based on semidefinite programming methods. The derivation of the optimal N-to-M universal cloning machine in d dimensions is then detailed, as well as the notion of asymmetric cloning machines. In the second part of this review, the optical implementation of cloning machines is considered. It is shown that the universal cloning of photons can be achieved by parametric amplification of light or by symmetrization via the Hong-Ou-Mandel effect. The various experimental demonstrations of quantum cloning machines are reviewed. The cloning of orthogonally polarized photons is also considered, as well as the asymmetric and phase-covariant cloning of photons. Finally, the extension of quantum cloning to continuous variables is analyzed. The optimal cloning of coherent states of light by phase-insensitive amplification is explained, as well as the experimental realization of continuous-variable quantum cloning with linear optics, measurement, and feed-forward operations.
While exact cloning of an unknown quantum state is prohibited by the linearity of quantum mechanics, approximate cloning is possible and has been used, e.g., to derive limits on the security of quantum communication protocols. In the case of asymmetric cloning, the information from the input state is distributed asymmetrically between the different output states. Here, we consider asymmetric phase-covariant cloning, where the goal is to optimally transfer the phase information from a single input qubit to different output qubits. We construct an optimal quantum cloning machine for two qubits that does not require ancilla qubits and implement it on an NMR quantum information processor.
Attempts at cloning a quantum system result in the introduction of imperfections in the state of the copies. This is a consequence of the no-cloning theorem, which is a fundamental law of quantum physics and the backbone of security for quantum communications. Although perfect copies are prohibited, a quantum state may be copied with maximal accuracy via various optimal cloning schemes. Optimal quantum cloning, which lies at the border of the physical limit imposed by the no-signaling theorem and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, has been experimentally realized for low-dimensional photonic states. However, an increase in the dimensionality of quantum systems is greatly beneficial to quantum computation and communication protocols. Nonetheless, no experimental demonstration of optimal cloning machines has hitherto been shown for high-dimensional quantum systems. We perform optimal cloning of high-dimensional photonic states by means of the symmetrization method. We show the universality of our technique by conducting cloning of numerous arbitrary input states and fully characterize our cloning machine by performing quantum state tomography on cloned photons. In addition, a cloning attack on a Bennett and Brassard (BB84) quantum key distribution protocol is experimentally demonstrated to reveal the robustness of high-dimensional states in quantum cryptography.
Attempts at cloning a quantum system result in the introduction of imperfections in the state of the copies. This is a consequence of the no-cloning theorem, which is a fundamental law of quantum physics and the backbone of security for quantum communications. Although such perfect copies are prohibited, a quantum state may be copied with maximal accuracy via various optimal cloning schemes. Optimal quantum cloning, which lies at the border of the physical limit imposed by the no-signalling theorem and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle, has been experimentally realized for low dimensional photonic states. However, an increase in the dimensionality of quantum systems is greatly beneficial to quantum computation and communication protocols. Nonetheless, no experimental demonstration of optimal cloning machines has hitherto been shown for high-dimensional quantum systems. Here, we perform optimal cloning of high-dimensional photonic states by means of the symmetrization method. We show the universality of our technique by conducting cloning of numerous arbitrary input states, and fully characterize our cloning machine by performing quantum state tomography on \emph{cloned} photons. In addition, a cloning attack on a Bennett and Brassard (BB84) quantum key distribution protocol is experimentally demonstrated in order to reveal the robustness of high-dimensional states in quantum cryptography.
The no-cloning theorem is one of the fundamental concepts of quantum information theory. It tells us that no general quantum state can be perfectly replicated. In this thesis we introduce the notion of imperfect cloning, and define the properties of the universal cloning machine. Furthermore, we construct an ansatz of how our universal cloning machine should perform as to produce two imperfect clones from one input qubit. We find an optimal fidelity of 5/6 for our universal cloning machine. We then reevaluate our ansatz and construct a class of unitary transformations such that an optimal fidelity is always achieved. Lastly, we present an overview of some applications of imperfect quantum cloning in the field of quantum information.