A High-Quality Entropy Source Using van der Waals Heterojunction for True Random Number Generation

TL;DR

This paper introduces a compact, all-electronic van der Waals heterostructure device that efficiently extracts entropy from quantum physical processes to generate high-quality true random sequences suitable for cryptography, operating across a wide temperature range.

Contribution

The authors develop a novel vdW heterostructure device that achieves record high min-entropy extraction and tunable entropy generation rates for true random number generation.

Findings

Achieved >0.98 bits/bit min-entropy in random sequences.

Verified the randomness using NIST standards.

Demonstrated operation from cryogenic to ambient temperatures.

Abstract

Generators of random sequences used in high-end applications such as cryptography rely on entropy sources for their indeterminism. Physical processes governed by the laws of quantum mechanics are excellent sources of entropy available in nature. However, extracting enough entropy from such systems for generating truly random sequences is challenging while maintaining the feasibility of the extraction procedure for real-world applications. Here, we present a compact and an all-electronic van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure-based device capable of detecting discrete charge fluctuations for extracting entropy from physical processes and use it for the generation of independent and identically distributed (IID) true random sequences. We extract a record high value ($>0.98~bits/bit$) of min-entropy using the proposed scheme. We demonstrate an entropy generation rate tunable over multiple orders of magnitude and show the persistence of the underlying physical process for temperatures ranging from cryogenic to ambient conditions. We verify the random nature of the generated sequences using tests such as NIST SP 800-90B standard and other statistical measures and verify the suitability our random sequence for cryptographic applications using the NIST SP 800-22 standard. The generated random sequences are then used in implementing various randomized algorithms without any preconditioning steps.