Random numbers from vacuum fluctuations

Abstract

We implement a quantum random number generator based on a balanced homodyne measurement of vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field. The digitized signal is directly processed with a fast randomness extraction scheme based on a linear feedback shift register. The random bit stream is continuously read in a computer at a rate of about 480 Mbit/s and passes an extended test suite for random numbers.

Enhancing Extractable Quantum Entropy in Vacuum-Based Quantum Random Number Generator

“…Chip-size integration of the QRNG is expectable. Several dedicated researches have been developed to enhance the generation rate of random bits in this proposal, such as schemes based on optimization of the digitization algorithm [ 19 ], implementation of fast randomness extraction in the post-processing [ 20 ], application of squeezing vacuum state to increase entropy in raw data [ 21 ] and optimization of ADC parameters to improve the quantum entropy in the raw data [ 22 ]. In this paper, considering the effects of the classical noise, we discuss the role of homodyne gain in enhancing quantum entropy in the vacuum-based quantum RNG working in the optimum dynamical ADC range scenario.…”

Quantum random number generator using vacuum fluctuations

“…The result of the interference of the reference field, described by Poisson statistics, and the vacuum field on an optical beam splitter with two input and two output ports is described in operator form in [19], these beam splitters were used in the QRNG based on vacuum fluctuations in a number of works [10,13,14]. In this work, for the experimental implementation of QRNG based on vacuum fluctuations, the Y-beam splitter is used, the mathematical substantiation of the possibility of using it is presented in [20,21].…”

“…QRNGs are based on quantum processes, which are nondeterministic. Randomness in such generators can be extracted based on the principle of detecting single photons in different optical modes [7], using entangled photons [8], laser phase noise [9], or measuring fluctuations of vacuum [10,13]. The last type of QRNGs is of the interest due to the simplicity of implementation, relatively compact size, and high speed of random sequence generation.…”

Homodyne-based quantum random number generator at 2.9 Gbps secure against quantum side-information

“…Real-time field-programmable-gate-array (FPGA) implementations of randomness extraction with Gbit/s-speed using an information theoretically secure Toeplitz randomness extractor have been demonstrated recently 12,[18][19][20]22 . Previously reported QRNG implementations achieved only moderate speeds or did not extract random numbers in real time [6][7][8]11,[13][14][15][16][17] .…”

“…Furthermore, it has been assumed in the security proof that subsequent measurement outcomes of QRNGs based on homodyning of vacuum states are uncorrelated in time. Therefore, experiments dealt with the unavoidable correlations caused by the finite bandwidth of the detection system by exploiting aliasing in the sampling procedure or by using suitable post-processing algorithms [6][7][8]11,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20] . Such measures usually throttle the overall rate considerably or remove the correlations only partially.…”