An ultrafast quantum random number generator with provably bounded output bias based on photon arrival time measurements

Abstract

We report the implementation of a quantum random number generator based on photon arrival times. Due to fast and high resolution timing we are able to generate the highest bitrate of any current generator based on photon arrival times. Bias in the raw data due to the exponential distribution of the arrival times is removed by postprocessing which is directly integrated in the field programmable logic of the timing electronics.

Air to ground quantum key distribution

“…As commercial quantum random number generators are limited to rates of tens of MHz [44,111,112], for the time being, they will have to be parallelized or used to seed pseudo random number generators to enable a bit stream in the GHz regime. Nevertheless, quantum random number generators are being actively developed and bit rates well beyond 100 MHz have already been demonstrated [113,114].…”

More randomness from a prepare-and-measure scenario with independent devices

“…Since it is impossible to generate true random numbers by computer algorithms, most true random number generators are based on unpredictable physical process. Recently a variety of quantum random number generation (QRNG)schemes based on the intrinsic randomness of quantum theory have been proposed [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. All of these schemes work essentially according to the same principle, exploiting the randomness of quantum measurements.…”

Random numbers from vacuum fluctuations

“…Early PRNG of this class were based on observing the decay statistics of radioactive nuclei 5,6 . More recently, similar PRNG based on Poisson statistics in optical photon detection were implemented [7][8][9][10][11] . Different schemes use the randomness of a single photon scattered by a beam splitter into either of two output ports 12,13 .…”