We propose a robust and efficient approach for tripartite-to-bipartite entanglement localization. By using weak measurements and quantum measurement reversal, an almost maximal entangled state shared by two parties can be generated with the assistance of the third party by local quantum operations and classical communication from a $W$-like state. We show that this approach works well in the presence of losses and phase diffusion. Our method provides an active way to fight against decoherence, and might help for quantum communication and distributed quantum computation.

• Received 27 April 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.86.022312