We present a scheme to produce an entangled four-photon W state by using linear optical elements. The symmetrical setup of linear optical elements consists of four beam splitters, four polarization beam splitters, and four mirrors. A photon Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen pair and two single photons are required as the input modes. The projection on the W state can be made by a four-photon coincidence measurement. Further, we show that by means of a horizontally oriented polarizer in front of one detector, the W state of three photons can be generated.

• Received 19 February 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.66.044302