We propose a scheme allowing a conditional implementation of suitably
truncated general single- or multi-mode operators acting on states of traveling
optical signal modes. The scheme solely relies on single-photon and coherent
states and applies beam splitters and zero- and single-photon detections. The
signal flow of the setup resembles that of a multi-mode quantum teleportation
scheme thus allowing the individual signal modes to be spatially separated from
each other. Some examples such as the realization of cross-Kerr nonlinearities,
multi-mode mirrors, and the preparation of multi-photon entangled states are
considered.Comment: 11 pages, 4 eps-figures, using revtex