Preparation of the four-qubit cluster states in cavity QED and the trapped-ion system

This paper proposes a simple scheme to generate a four-atom entangled cluster state in cavity quantum electrodynamics. With the assistantce of a strong classical field the cavity is only virtually excited and no quantum information will be transferred from the atoms to the cavity during the preparation for a four-atom entangled cluster state, and thus the scheme is insensitive to the cavity field states and cavity decay. Assuming that deviation of laser intensity is 0.01 and that of simultaneity for the interaction is 0.01, it shows that the fidelity of the resulting four-atom entangled cluster state is about 0.9886. The scheme can also be used to generate a four-ion entangled cluster state in a hot trapped-ion system. Assuming that deviation of laser intensity is 0.01, it shows that the fidelity of the resulting four-ion entangled cluster state is about 0.9990. Experimental feasibility for achieving this scheme is also discussed.