We describe an experimental scheme of preparing multipartite W class of maximally entangled states between many atomic ensembles. The scheme is based on laser manipulation of atomic ensembles and single-photon detection, and well fits the status of the current experimental technology. In addition, we show one of the applications of the kind of W class states, teleporting an entangled state of atomic ensembles with unknown coefficients to more than one distant parties, either one of which equally likely receives the transmitted state.

• Received 16 June 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.67.034302