Quantum cloning with continuous variables

Nicolas J. Cerf

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arXiv · quant-ph/0210061

Quantum cloning with continuous variables

Nicolas J. Cerf

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Abstract

Cloning machines, that is, transformations that achieve the best approximate copying of a quantum state compatible with the no-cloning theorem, have been a fundamental research topic over the last five years. This study is of particular significance given the close connection between quantum cloning and quantum cryptography: using an optimal cloner generally makes it possible to obtain a tight bound on the best individual eavesdropping strategy in a quantum cryptosystem. In this Chapter, the issue of cloning a continuous-variable quantum system will be analyzed, and a Gaussian cloning transformation will be introduced. This cloner, which copies equally well any two canonically conjugate continuous variables, duplicates all coherent states with a same fidelity (F=2/3). The optical implementation of this cloner and its extension to N-to-M cloners will also be discussed. Finally, the use of this cloner for the security assessment of a quantum key distribution scheme relying on continuous (Gaussian) key carriers will be sketched.

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Nicolas J. Cerf. 2002-10-09. Quantum cloning with continuous variables. https://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/0210061

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