Experimental Demonstration of Continuous Variable Cloning with Phase-Conjugate Inputs

We report the experimental demonstration of continuous variable cloning of phase conjugate coherent states as proposed by Cerf and Iblisdir (Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 247903 (2001)). In contrast to the proposal of Cerf and Iblisdir, the cloning transformation is accomplished using only linear optical components, homodyne detection and feedforward. Three clones are succesfully produced with fidelities about 89%.Comment: 5 page

Optimal multicopy asymmetric Gaussian cloning of coherent states

We investigate the asymmetric Gaussian cloning of coherent states which produces M copies from N input replicas, such that the fidelity of all copies may be different. We show that the optimal asymmetric Gaussian cloning can be performed with a single phase-insensitive amplifier and an array of beam splitters. We obtain a simple analytical expression characterizing the set of optimal asymmetric Gaussian cloning machines.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, RevTeX

A lower bound on the two-arms exponent for critical percolation on the lattice

We consider the standard site percolation model on the $d$-dimensional lattice. A direct consequence of the proof of the uniqueness of the infinite cluster of Aizenman, Kesten and Newman [Comm. Math. Phys. 111 (1987) 505-531] is that the two-arms exponent is larger than or equal to $1/2$. We improve slightly this lower bound in any dimension $d\geq2$. Next, starting only with the hypothesis that $\theta(p)>0$, without using the slab technology, we derive a quantitative estimate establishing long-range order in a finite box.Comment: Published at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/14-AOP940 in the Annals of Probability (http://www.imstat.org/aop/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

Sustaining Careers: A Study of the Status of U.S. Craft Artists

This report updates the 2004 study, "Voices From the Studio, National Craft Artist Research Project" The current survey results reported here complement focus groups and a literature review. The findings allow the CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund + Artists' Emergency Resources) board, staff, and other stakeholders to assess the needs of professional craft artists and inform decisions about CERF+'s programs and services. The inquiry will also enlighten the craft field and arts sector as a whole about the needs, challenges, and opportunities craft artists face as they work to sustain their careers.CERF+'s 2013 survey of 3,500 American craft artists sampled attitudes about craft trends, sales and income, insurance, emergency preparation and recovery, and plans for their legacy. Quantitative survey findings closely correspond with more nuanced, qualitative results of nine focus groups conducted by CERF+ nationwide in late 2012 and early 2013. Policy makers, funders, and service providers will find the summaries of both studies instructive

Cloning a Qutrit

We investigate several classes of state-dependent quantum cloners for three-level systems. These cloners optimally duplicate some of the four maximally-conjugate bases with an equal fidelity, thereby extending the phase-covariant qubit cloner to qutrits. Three distinct classes of qutrit cloners can be distinguished, depending on two, three, or four maximally-conjugate bases are cloned as well (the latter case simply corresponds to the universal qutrit cloner). These results apply to symmetric as well as asymmetric cloners, so that the balance between the fidelity of the two clones can also be analyzed.Comment: 14 pages LaTex. To appear in the Journal of Modern Optics for the special issue on "Quantum Information: Theory, Experiment and Perspectives". Proceedings of the ESF Conference, Gdansk, July 10-18, 200