  We study the performance (rate and fidelity) of distributing multipartite
entangled states in a quantum network through the use of a central node.
Specifically, we consider the scenario where the multipartite entangled state
is first prepared locally at a central node, and then transmitted to the end
nodes of the network through quantum teleportation. As our first result, we
present leading-order analytical expressions and lower bounds for both the rate
and fidelity at which a specific class of multipartite entangled states, namely
Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger (GHZ) states, are distributed. Our analytical
expressions for the fidelity accurately account for time-dependent depolarizing
noise encountered by individual quantum bits while stored in quantum memory, as
verified using Monte Carlo simulations. As our second result, we compare the
performance to the case where the central node is an entanglement switch and
the GHZ state is created by the end nodes in a distributed fashion. Apart from
these two results, we outline how the teleportation-based scheme could be
physically implemented using trapped ions or nitrogen-vacancy centers in
diamond.
