Programmable quantum random number generator without postprocessing

Abstract

We demonstrate a viable source of unbiased quantum random numbers whose statistical properties can be arbitrarily programmed without the need for any postprocessing such as randomness distillation or distribution transformation. It is based on measuring the arrival time of single photons in shaped temporal modes that are tailored with an electro-optical modulator. We show that quantum random numbers can be created directly in customized probability distributions and pass all randomness tests of the NIST and Dieharder test suites without any randomness extraction. The min-entropies of such generated random numbers are measured close to the theoretical limits, indicating their near-ideal statistics and ultrahigh purity. Easy to implement and arbitrarily programmable, this technique can find versatile uses in a multitude of data analysis areas.

Quantum systems for Monte Carlo methods and applications to fractional stochastic processes

“…In a recent paper [22], we present a viable source of unbiased quantum random numbers whose statistical properties can be programmed without need for post-processing. The device is based on measuring the arrival times of single photons in shaped temporal modes, as illustrated in Figure 1.…”

“…Compared to other methods of implementation, which focus on high data rate and test suite scores, our approach is notable where we also demonstrate that QRNs can be generated directly in arbitrary probability distributions, with high-dimensionality, and free of post-processing. It is based on the random arrival time measurement of single photons that have temporal wave-forms shaped by an electro-optical modulator [22]. A key application area of such random numbers is for MC simulations for stochastic processes.…”

Generating randomness: making the most out of disordering a false order into a real one

“…Resonant tunneling diodes are thus used as practical true random number generators based on quantum mechanical effects [54]. A viable source of unbiased quantum random numbers was presented, the statistical properties of which can be arbitrarily programmed without the need for post-processing [59]. The method is based on measuring the arrival time of single photons in shaped temporal modes tailored with an electro-optical modulator.…”

Parity-based, bias-free optical quantum random number generation with min-entropy estimation

“…This integration of parity-based single-photon quantum random generation with a verification of minentropy and quantum randomness via measurements on entangled states distinguishes our experiment from other optical QRNGs that produce bias-free random numbers without postprocessing, such as those described in Refs. [9,11,15,[37][38][39][40]. Our experiment also provides full control over the preparation of the quantum states and the measurement settings, and it does not require any time-tagging of individual photon events.…”