We consider qubit networks where adjacent qubits besides interacting via $XY$ coupling, also dissipate into the same environment. The steady states are computed exactly for all network sizes and topologies, showing that they are always symmetric under permutation of network sites, leading to a uniform distribution of the stationary entanglement across the network. The maximum entanglement between two arbitrary qubits is shown to depend only on the total number of qubits in the network, and scales linearly with it. A possible physical realization by means of an array of doped cavities is discussed for the case of a linear chain.

• Received 5 March 2012

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevA.85.042320