Distribution of continuous-variable entanglement by separable Gaussian states

Entangling two systems at distant locations using a separable mediating ancilla is a counterintuitive phenomenon proposed for qubits by T. Cubitt et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 037902 (2003)]. We show that such entanglement distribution is possible with Gaussian states, using a certain three-mode fully separable mixed Gaussian state and linear optics elements readily available in experiments. Two modes of the state become entangled by sequentially mixing them on two beam splitters, while the third one remains separable in all stages of the protocol.