Experimental quantum cloning with prior partial information

Abstract

When prior partial information about a state to be cloned is available, it can be cloned with a fidelity higher than that of universal quantum cloning. We experimentally verify this intriguing relationship between the cloning fidelity and the prior information by reporting the first experimental optimal quantum state-dependent cloner, using nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. Our experiments may further cast important implications into many quantum information processing protocols © 2005 The American Physical Society.