Spin Squeezing in an Ensemble of Atoms Illuminated with Squeezed Light

We propose an experimentally feasible way to generate spin squeezing in an ensemble of V-type atoms. The proposal involves absorption of a squeezed light beam, and it does not require a large solid angle to be occupied by squeezed light. 50% of the amount of squeezing of the optical field can be transferred onto spin squeezing of the excited atomic states. The analogy with the input-output theory for quantum fields is used to elucidate this result. An experimental setup for generation and detection of spin squeezing within magnetic or hf manifolds is outlined.