Multipartite asymmetric quantum cloning

Abstract

We investigate the optimal distribution of quantum information over multipartite systems in asymmetric settings. We introduce cloning transformations that take $N$ identical replicas of a pure state in any dimension as input and yield a collection of clones with nonidentical fidelities. As an example, if the clones are partitioned into a set of ${M}_{A}$ clones with fidelity ${F}^{A}$ and another set of ${M}_{B}$ clones with fidelity ${F}^{B}$, the trade-off between these fidelities is analyzed, and particular cases of optimal $N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{M}_{A}+{M}_{B}$ cloning machines are exhibited. We also present an optimal $1\ensuremath{\rightarrow}1+1+1$ cloning machine, which is an example of a tripartite fully asymmetric cloner. Finally, it is shown how these cloning machines can be optically realized.