Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-28-2002
Abstract
Although perfect copying of unknown quantum systems is forbidden by the laws of quantum mechanics, approximate cloning is possible. A natural way of realizing quantum cloning of photons is by stimulated emission. In this context, the fundamental quantum limit to the quality of the clones is imposed by the unavoidable presence of spontaneous emission. In our experiment, a single input photon stimulates the emission of additional photons from a source on the basis of parametric down-conversion. This leads to the production of quantum clones with near-optimal fidelity. We also demonstrate universality of the copying procedure by showing that the same fidelity is achieved for arbitrary input states.
Recommended Citation
A. Lamas-Linares, C. Simon, J. C. Howell, and D. Bouwmeester, Experimental Quantum Cloning of Single Photons, Science 296(5568), 712-714 DOI: 10.1126/science.1068972">
Peer Reviewed
1
Copyright
AAAS
Comments
This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Science, volume 296, in 2002 following peer review. This article may not exactly replicate the final published version. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1068972.