Minimalist design of a robust real-time quantum random number generator

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simple, stable, and fast real-time quantum random number generator that uses single-photon detector click intervals and a look-up table for efficient randomness extraction, achieving high-speed output.

Contribution

A minimalist design for a robust, real-time QRNG using time interval measurements and a look-up table for efficient randomness extraction.

Findings

Achieves 1.2 Mbit/s random bit generation rate.

Operates with stable, straightforward hardware.

Uses deterministic look-up table for on-the-fly randomness extraction.

Abstract

We present a simple and robust construction of a real-time quantum random number generator (QRNG). Our minimalist approach ensures stable operation of the device as well as its simple and straightforward hardware implementation as a stand-alone module. As a source of randomness the device uses measurements of time intervals between clicks of a single-photon detector. The obtained raw sequence is then filtered and processed by a deterministic randomness extractor, which is realized as a look-up table. This enables high speed on-the-fly processing without the need of extensive computations. The overall performance of the device is around 1 random bit per detector click, resulting in 1.2 Mbit/s generation rate in our implementation.