Optical quantum random number generators: a comparative study

Quantum random number generators give the opportunity to, in theory, obtain completely unpredictable numbers only perturbed by the noise in the measurement. The obtained data can be digitalized and processed so that it gives as a result a uniform sequence of binary random numbers without any relation with the classical noise in the system. In this work we analyze the performance of optical QRNGs with three different arrangements: a homodyne detector measuring vacuum fluctuations, a homodyne detector measuring amplified spontaneous emission from an EDFA and a spontaneous emission phase noise-based generator. The raw data from the experiments is processed using a Toeplitz extractor, giving as a result sequences of binary numbers capable of passing the NIST Statistical Test Suite.

Automated summary

Quantum random number generators theoretically provide completely unpredictable numbers perturbed only by measurement noise. The obtained data can be processed to yield a sequence of uniform binary random numbers unrelated to classical noise. This study analyzes the performance of optical QRNGs using three different arrangements: a homodyne detector measuring vacuum fluctuations, a homodyne detector measuring amplified spontaneous emission from an EDFA, and a spontaneous emission phase noise-based generator. The raw data is processed with a Toeplitz extractor, generating binary number sequences that pass the NIST Statistical Test Suite.