![](https://d3ilqtpdwi981i.cloudfront.net/gBAMZNZF-ZwFf-uWyqkfhZ_dS2A=/425x550/smart/https://bepress-attached-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/de/d1/f9/ded1f90d-643a-4514-89a6-05362303ff54/thumbnail_35278bb9-0a04-44ce-9d0e-6ecbe2cd219f.jpg)
We study spontaneously generated entanglement (SGE) between two identical multilevel atoms in free space via vacuum-induced radiative coupling. We show that the SGE in two-atom systems may initially increase with time but eventually vanishes in the time scale determined by the excited-state lifetime and radiative coupling strength between the two atoms. We demonstrate that steady-state SGE can be established by incoherently pumping the atoms to their excited states. We have shown that an appropriate rate of incoherent pump can help in producing optimal steady-state SGE. The multilevel systems offer us more channels to establish entanglement. The system under consideration can be realized in a tight trap or atoms/ions doped in a solid substrate.
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/anil_patnaik/2/
The original publication is available at http://pra.aps.org/abstract/PRA/v79/i6/e062102