Activation of entanglement in generalized entanglement swapping

We study entanglement activation in a generalized entanglement swapping process involving two Bell pairs and generalized measurements. The conventional understanding posits entangled measurements as both necessary and sufficient for establishing entanglement between distant parties. In this study, we reassess the role of measurement operators in entanglement generation within a generalized entanglement swapping process. We focus on maximally entangled two-qubit initial states and generalized measurements, investigating the necessity and sufficiency conditions for entangled measurement operators. By utilizing two Bell pairs, (1, 2) shared between Alice and Bob, and (3, 4) shared between Bob and Charlie, we demonstrate that while entangled measurements are sufficient, they are not indispensable for establishing entanglement between spatially separated observers. Through a sequential approach, if Bob performs an initial measurement which is not able to establish entanglement then followed by another measurement after post-processing the first measurement it is possible to establish entanglement. We identify specific criteria for different measurement operators that enable the potential for performing a second measurement to establish entanglement. Our findings highlight the feasibility of generating entanglement between distant parties through a combination of measurements, shedding light on entanglement distribution in quantum networks. Additionally, we showcase through illustrative examples how successive measurements enhance entanglement compared to single measurements, underscoring the practical benefits of our approach in enhancing entanglement. Moreover, our protocol extends beyond bipartite qubit states to higher-dimensional maximally entangled states, emphasizing its versatility and applicability.
Comment: (v1) Preliminary version. (v2) Rectified the typos and improved the clarity. (v3) Close to the published version, published in Physical Review A