Universal quantum cloning in cavity QED

We propose an implementation of an universal quantum cloning machine [UQCM, V. Buzek and M. Hillery, Phys. Rev. A 54, 1844 (1996)] in a cavity quantum electrodynamics experiment. This UQCM acts on the electronic states of atoms that interact with the electromagnetic field of a high-$Q$ cavity. We discuss here the specific case of the $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{1}2$ cloning process using either a one- or a two-cavity configuration.