Certified Random Number Generation from Quantum Steering

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a photonic quantum steering protocol that generates certified random bits with security against adversaries, closing the detection loophole in a one-sided device-independent framework.

Contribution

It introduces a novel steering-based quantum random number generator that produces certified randomness with practical implementation and security guarantees.

Findings

First generation of certified random bits in steering scenario

Detection loophole successfully closed in experiment

Implementation on a photonic platform confirms protocol viability

Abstract

The ultimate random number generators are those certified to be unpredictable -- including to an adversary. The use of simple quantum processes promises to provide numbers that no physical observer could predict but, in practice, unwanted noise and imperfect devices can compromise fundamental randomness and protocol security. Certified randomness protocols have been developed which remove the need for trust in devices by taking advantage of nonlocality. Here, we use a photonic platform to implement our protocol, which operates in the quantum steering scenario where one can certify randomness in a one-sided device independent framework. We demonstrate an approach for a steering-based generator of public or private randomness, and the first generation of certified random bits, with the detection loophole closed, in the steering scenario.