Wootters and Zurek: a single quantum cannot be cloned

What changed

Proved linear quantum dynamics forbids universal perfect copying of an unknown state.

Scientific scope

The record is the exact two-author 1982 Nature paper. It does not absorb Dieks's independent same-year result, later generalized no-broadcasting theorems, approximate cloning or experimental implementations.

Evidence

The linked sources identify this contribution and its scope. WRS has not independently reconstructed the scientific claims. The record is the exact two-author 1982 Nature paper. It does not absorb Dieks's independent same-year result, later generalized no-broadcasting theorems, approximate cloning or experimental implementations.

Contributors

• William K. Wootters · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.
• Wojciech H. Zurek · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.

• Wootters and Zurek: a single quantum cannot be cloned

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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