Optimal concentrating arbitrary partially entangled W states with linear optics

Abstract: We propose two optimal entanglement concentration protocols (ECPs) for arbitrary single-photon multi-mode W state and multi-photon polarization W state, respectively. In both ECPs, we only require one pair of partially entangled W state, and do not consume any auxiliary photon. Both ECPs are based on the linear optics which can be easily realized. On the other hand, the concentrated maximally entangled states can be remained, which are quite different from the previous ECPs. Moreover, for the concentration of the arbitrary single-photon N-mode W state or N-mode polarization W state, the total success probability is equal to Nth the modulus square of the Schmidt coefficient of the smallest magnitude. It makes both ECPs optimal than all the previous ECPs. Our ECPs may be useful in current quantum communication fields.