We show how atomic coherence can lead to entanglement between two thermal fields at a temperature T. We first show that the passage of a three-level atom in V configuration without coherence cannot create entanglement. However, if the excited states are driven by a microwave field, the resulting atomic coherence can lead to entanglement between the thermal fields. We show that, no matter how high the temperature of the fields is, the thermal fields can always be entangled in the presence of atomic coherence. 2005 The American Physical Society.
