Beyond pure state entanglement for atomic ensembles

We analyze multipartite entanglement between atomic ensembles within quantum matter-light interfaces. In our proposal, a polarized light beam crosses sequentially several polarized atomic ensembles impinging on each of them at a given angle αi. These angles are crucial parameters for shaping the entanglement since they are directly connected to the appropriate combinations of the collective atomic spins that are squeezed. We exploit such a scheme to go beyond the pure state paradigm proposing realistic experimental settings to address multipartite mixed state entanglement in continuous variables. © IOP Publishing Ltd and Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft.