Quantum Random Number Generator

Team Members

Wang Yang A0228753X

Xiao Yucan A0236278W

Zhang Munan A0236273E

Idea

We live in an increasingly connected world, where a superior source of entropy is the key to data security. The effectiveness of any cryptographic system is determined by the strength of the keys it used. In turn, the strength of the key is determined by the degree of randomness used in its generation. And Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs) leverage the random properties of quantum physics to generate a true source of entropy, improving the quality of seed content for key generation.

• BENEFITS OF HAVING A QUANTUM RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR:​
  • The source of randomness is unpredictable and controlled by quantum process.
  • The entropy source tends to produce true random output.
  • Live/ real-time monitoring of entropy source is possible and highly effective as well.
  • All attacks on the entropy source are detectable.
  • The above factors indicate that our QRNG is provably secure.

• APPLICATIONS OF QUANTUM RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR​:
  • Securing data at rest in data centres
  • Securing any kind of sensitive data
  • Securing data in the cloud
  • One-time pad for authentication in banking and other transactions
  • Gaming applications and lottery
  • Block-chain network
  • Numerical simulations, statistical research
  • IoT devices
  • E-commerce and banking applications
  • Cryptographic applications
  • Telecom and 5G

In today’s Y2Q world, developers have to rely on the source of entropy as quantum-enabled security keys are set to become the new normal. Organisations should, therefore, implement QRNG to protect their customers’ data.

Principles

Principle schematic of QRNG

In cybersecurity, a perfect random number is the root of trust. A QRNG does not rely on mathematical algorithms but on laws of quantum physics to ‘naturally’ generate random numbers. A QRNG can produce unpredictable outcomes in a robust and well-controlled way. It includes the power of complex deep-tech technologies such as semiconductors, optoelectronics, high precision electronics, and quantum physics that work together to create the highest level of randomness possible.

QRNGs use random properties of quantum physics to generate a true source of entropy. This improves the quality of seed for key generation. Since the entropy sources are derived from fundamental models, all the properties and behaviors are understandable and provably secure.

A laser-based quantum source generates the randomness in Tropos quantum random number generator. A laser produces a stream of the elementary particle, photons. The photons generated from the laser are used to generate the random numbers. These photons unlike classical objects are unpredictable under certain situations. When incidenting on a semi-transparent mirror, the photon has a 50/50 chance of being reflected or transmitted. The photon is then in a superposition of both the states (reflected and transmitted), i.e. the photon exists in both the states simultaneously. Upon measurement, it collapses to one of these states, which is intrinsically random and there is no way to predict which state the photon will collapse. This gives the inherent randomness from the photons, which cannot be influenced by any external parameters. This process is illustrated in the right figure.

Setup

The original setup was created with as few components as possible to create a baseline performance that we can compare to. A schematic and a Experimental setup of the setup is shown in the image on the right.

Schematic of setup

Experimental setup

① Laser Diode: Provide a light source, by changing the laser current can change the light intensity of the light source.

② Focal Lens : By adjusting the focal length, the intensity of light that finally hits the photo diodes adjusted.

③RP: rotatable Polarizer: The proportion of light intensity passing through PBS and reflected by PBS is controlled by adjusting RP.

④ Mirror 1 : By adjusting mirror 1, the falling points of the two Laser beams after passing through PBS and reflected by PBS can be adjusted simultaneously.

⑤ PBS : Polarizer Beam Splitter : The laser beam incident to the PBS can pass through it or reflected by it.

⑥ Mirror 2 : By adjusting mirror 1, the falling points of the laser beam after passing through PBS can be adjusted.

⑦&⑧ : Photo diodes : Detect the intensity of incident light

Experimental setup

Gallery

• 26 February 2022:

• 5 March 2022:

• 
  Basic characterization of photodiode test
• 
  Schematic of basic characterization of photodiode test

• 12 March 2022:

* Build up the laser system
* Focus the laser outpu

• 
  The HL6501MG is a 0.65 μm band AlGaInP laser diode (LD) with a multi-quantum well (MQW) structure. It is suitable as a light source for large capacity optical disc memories and various other types of optical equipment.Hermetic sealing of the small package (φ5.6 mm) assures high reliability.

• 19 March 2022:

• 
  The S5972 is high-speed Si PIN photodiodes designed for visible to near infrared light detec-tion. These photodiodes provide wideband characteristics at a low bias, making them suitable for optical communicationsand other high-speed photometry.
• 
• 
  Schematic photodiode driving circuit bolck

* Soldering photodiode driving circuit
* Test the feasibility

• 26 March 2022:

* Build up the whole system
* Tune the bias of two photodiodes

• 2 April 2022:

• 9 April 2022:

• 16 April 2022:

• 
  Setup of gain block and high pass filter
• 
  Schematic of high pass filter
• 
  Graph of measured high pass filter frequency response
• 
  Graph of theoretical high pass filter frequency response

* Soldering high pass filter
* Record experimental data

The measured total noise has a relatively flat power density in the range of 60-200 MHz. With a low pass filter of 200 MHz in the oscilloscope, we just needed a high pass filter of 60 MHz which compresses the low frequency fluctuations.

• 23 April 2022:

* Processing experimental data
* Draw autocorrelation images
* Summarize and upload the experimental results

Background reading

[1]Quantum random number generators, Miguel Herrero-Collantes and Juan Carlos Garcia-Escartin, Rev. Mod. Phys. 89, 015004.