Quantum generators of random numbers

Abstract

Generation of random numbers is a central problem for many applications in the field of information processing, including, e.g., cryptography, in classical and quantum regime, but also mathematical modeling, Monte Carlo methods, gambling and many others. Both, the quality of the randomness and efficiency of the random numbers generation process are crucial for the most of these applications. Software produced pseudorandom bit sequences, though sufficiently quick, do not fulfill required randomness quality demands. Hence, the physical hardware methods are intensively developed to generate truly random number sequences for information processing and electronic security application. In the present paper we discuss the idea of the quantum random number generators. We also present a variety of tests utilized to assess the quality of randomness of generated bit sequences. In the experimental part we apply such tests to assess and compare two quantum random number generators, PQ4000KSI (of company ComScire US) and JUR01 (constructed in Wroclaw University of Science and Technology upon the project of The National Center for Research and Development) as well as a pseudorandom generator from the Mathematica Wolfram package. Finally, we present our new prototype of fully operative miniaturized quantum random generator JUR02 producing a random bit sequence with velocity of 1 Mb/s, which successfully passed standard tests of randomness quality (like NIST and Dieharder tests). We also shortly discuss our former concept of an entanglement-based quantum random number generator protocol with unconditionally secure public randomness verification.

A Comprehensive Review of Quantum Random Number Generators: Concepts, Classification and the Origin of Randomness

“…A brief overview of the available products is provided in Table 3. The table lists commercially available QRNGs along with their bit generation speed, types of connectivity available, and the different tests passed by the corresponding QRNGs [9]. It is to be mentioned that the commercial QRNGs available now belong to the class of trusted devices.…”

“…For example, one-time passwords (OTPs) received for various purposes, pins provided by the bank, and CAPTCHAs that appear on your screen when you try to log in at some website are all expected to be the output of a random number generator. Naturally, there is intense interest among scientists and technologists in building random number generators, and various types of random number generators have been built and/or proposed in the recent past [6,7,8,9]. The output from the random number generator should ideally conform to the principles of uniformity and independence.…”

“…Further, the laws of quantum mechanics can be used to quantify the quality of random numbers. The current quantum technology is quite mature that it is now possible to generate high-quality random numbers which can be used in unconditionally secure cryptography applications [9]. The random number generators which use quantum sources to produce a certifiable source of randomness are known as quantum random number generators (QRNGs) [7,8].…”

Quantum affective processes for multidimensional decision-making

“…Therefore, even though the same criteria are applied to Q-Coppélia, the nature of the outcome is entirely different, which is the merit of a quantum algorithm. If similar probabilistic outcomes are to be achieved in conventional algorithms, pseudo-randomness is introduced, where the degree of true randomness as in the physical process may come to one’s attention 43 , 44 . Quantum logic, however, can naturally simulate such what we believe is realistic behavior.…”

A quantum random number generator on a nanosatellite in low Earth orbit

“…Of the many schemes to extract entropy from a photonic quantum system, we highlight: measuring the photon number statistics of a suitably attenuated source 14 , projective measurements of photon polarization orthogonal to the preparation basis 15 , and the measurement of interference between laser pulses with random phase 16 . Where entanglement is present, there are also opportunities to exploit the corresponding super-classical correlations to produce randomness which contains a degree of device independence 12,13,17 , or to generate so-called certified randomness 17,18 .…”