We experimentally establish a non-classical correlation between a single Stokes photon and the collective spin excited state of a cold atomic ensemble by using a spontaneous Raman scattering process. The correlation between them can be proved by transferring the spin excited state of the atomic ensemble into an anti-Stokes photon and checking the Cauchy-Schwarz inequality between the Stokes and the anti-Stokes photons. The non-classical correlation can be kept for at least 300 ns.
This paper proposes two simple and robust schemes to generate an atomic-ensemble Greenberger-Horne--Zeilinger-type （GHZ-type） entangled state via linear optics and single photon detection. These schemes are based on two-photon Hong-Ou-Mandel-type interference, therefore they are insensitive to the phase fluctuation. This advantage will make the realizations of these two schemes easier. One scheme can scale efficiently with the number of ensembles because of the used quantum memory. Both schemes are also robust to the noise and within the reach of current technology.
