Photon Arrival Time Quantum Random Number Generation

A quantum random number generator (QRNG) is one which re- lies on a physical process, extracting randomness from the inherent uncertainty in quantum mechanics. This is to be contrasted with current pseudo-random number generators (PRNG), which although useful, are in fact deterministic: they always yield the same output sequence given the same input seed. This is unacceptable for some applications, such as quantum cryptography, which promise uncon- ditional security. Unfortunately, the rate of QRNGs is still too slow for practical commercial quantum key distribution systems (which presently run at speeds over 1 GHz). Previous QRNGs have been implemented, with the most common relying on the behavior of a photon at a beam-splitter, producing a random bit dependent on which of the two paths in which the photon is detected. However, these are totally limited by detector saturation rates, typically in the low MHz range. We previously proposed that by instead using the time interval between detections, much more random information could be extracted per detection event. Specifically, instead of only one bit per detection, in principle one could extract as many bits as the measurement time resolution would allow. Over the past two years, we have been exploring this approach and have constructed a functional QRNG operating at rates up to 130 Mbit/s. The random output has been tested and has passed all common cryptographic random number tests.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2009

Author dc:creator

• Wayne, Michael A.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Kwiat, Paul G.

• quantum information, quantum cryptography, random number generation

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2009 Michael Alan Wayne

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/11979

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/11979