Fast True Random Number Generator Based on Chaotic Oscillation in Self-Feedback Weakly Coupled Superlattices

Abstract

Random numbers play a vital role in communications and cryptography. However, most existing true random number generators have difficulty in satisfying the requirements of high-speed communications due to their complexity and bulkiness, or low speed limitations due to equipment bandwidth. Then, the all-electron true random number generator was presented based on GaAs/Al 0.45 Ga 0.55 As superlattices conducted under direct current bias at room temperature, which not only possesses the characteristics of miniaturization but also generates random numbers at rates up to the Gbit/s. However, the bit rate of random number generators based on superlattices is still much slower compared to chaotic laser random number generators. In order to generate higher-rate random numbers, we modified a DC-excited superlattice and then redirected the signal generated by the superlattice back into itself, thus introducing a self-feedback, and achieved a self-feedback superlattice true random number generator. This improvement makes the superlattice have a more detailed signal shape, a more effective signal amplitude, and with lower power consumption. Therefore, these advances made the self-feedback superlattice more suitable for generating random numbers. Moreover, we propose a new post-processing method, called the adjacent bits reversal exclusive-or. This method can reduce the sequence bias and correlation without discarding any random bit. The random number obtained by the self-feedback superlattice at a sampling rate of 10 GS/s passed the triple standard deviation test and the random number standard test (NIST SP 800-22), indicating that it possessed good statistical properties as a miniaturized random number generator.

Min-entropy estimation for semiconductor superlattice true random number generators

“…The chaotic oscillation phenomenon of SSL can be used to generate random bits at high speed and enough entropy, which has attracted considerable interest recently 33 – 35 . Under specific offset voltage, the SSL is an ideal non-linear dynamic system with one-dimensional multi-degree-freedom.…”

“…In 2012, Huang et al 32 proposed to use GaAs/ As material instead of GaAs/AlAs to grow semiconductor superlattice and successfully observed chaos oscillation phenomenon at room temperature experimentally. Many scholars have confirmed that the SSL is an ideal entropy source by exploring the structure of the GaAs/ As SSL and the large-amplitude chaos current oscillation generate truly random numbers 33 – 35 . Moreover, the high-throughput embedded system of semiconductor superlattice true random number generator (SSL-TRNG) was reported recently 36 .…”

Min-Entropy Estimation for Semiconductor Superlattice True Random Number Generators

“…The chaotic oscillation phenomenon of SSL can be used to generate random bits at high speed and can generate enough entropy, which has attracted considerable interest recently [33][34][35] . Under specific offset voltage, the SSL is an ideal non-linear dynamic system with one-dimensional multi-degree-freedom.…”

“…In 2012, Huang et al 32 proposed to use GaAs/Al 0.45 Ga 0.55 As material instead of GaAs/AlAs to grow semiconductor superlattice and successfully observed chaos oscillation phenomenon at room temperature experimentally. Many scholars have confirmed that the SSL is an ideal entropy source by exploring the structure of the GaAs/Al 0.45 Ga 0.55 As SSL and the large-amplitude chaos current oscillation generate truly random numbers [33][34][35] . Moreover, the high-throughput embedded system of semiconductor superlattice true random number generator (SSL-TRNG) was reported recently 36 .…”

Cryptographically strong random number generation using integrated CMOS photodiodes for low-cost microcontroller based applications

“…Then various statistical tests are performed for measuring the strength of the generator. As the entropy source thermal noise on electrical components [9,10], phase jitter in oscillators [11][12][13][14],chaos [15,[17][18][19][20], spintronic [21] or optical sources [22] can be utilized. These implementations require advanced setups that require complex instrumentation and cover a large area.…”