A Fast and Compact Quantum Random Number Generator 论文

摘要

We present the realization of a physical quantum random number generator based on the process of splitting a beam of photons on a beam splitter, a quantum mechanical source of true randomness. By utilizing either a beam splitter or a polarizing beam splitter, single photon detectors and high speed electronics the presented devices are capable of generating a binary random signal with an autocorrelation time of 11.8 ns and a continuous stream of random numbers at a rate of 1 Mbit/s. The randomness of the generated signals and numbers is shown by running a series of tests upon data samples. The devices described in this paper are built into compact housings and are Random numbers are a vital ingredient in many applications ranging, to name some examples, from computational methods such as Monte Carlo simulations and programming1, over to the large field of cryptography for generating of crypto code or masking messages, as far as to commercial applications like lottery games and slot machines2–5. Recently