Can a "Hidden Variable" Quantum Theory Evade the "No-Cloning" Theorem?

Kirk T. McDonaldJoseph Henry Laboratories, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544kirkmcd@princeton.edu(October 6, 2005)If YES, then we can look forward to physical realization of superluminal communication,as the original considerations of the “no-cloning” theorem [1, 2] were motivated in part asan explanation of why certain schemes for superluminal signaling cannot work.If NO, then it would seem that some aspects of the “hidden” variables must be “intrinsi-cally hidden”, i.e., “unknowable”, such that “hidden-variable” theories belong more to the“idealist” than to the “realist” school of thought.I pose this question without proposing a definite answer. I am unaware of any commen-tary on this topic during these 23 years since the formulation of the “no-cloning” theorem,but I would be pleased to be enlightened by more knowledgeable readers.