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European Journal of Physics

Demonstrating quantum random with single photons

Patrick Bronner, Andreas Strunz, Christine Silberhorn, Jan-Peter Meyn

Published Aug 14, 2009• 27 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We present an experiment for education which demonstrates random transmission or reflection of heralded single photons on beam splitters. With our set-up, we can realize different quantum random experiments by appropriate settings of polarization rotators. The concept of entanglement is motivated by correlated randomness. The experiments are suitable for undergraduate education and are available as interactive screen experiments.

DOI
10.1088/0143-0807/30/5/026

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We present an experiment for education which demonstrates random transmission or reflection of heralded single photons on beam splitters. With our set-up, we can realize different quantum random experiments by appropriate settings of polarization rotators. The concept of entanglement is motivated by correlated randomness. The experiments are suitable for undergraduate education and are available as interactive screen experiments.
Single photons are used for fundamental quantum physics experiments as well as for applications. Originally being a topic of advance courses, such experiments are increasingly a subject of undergraduate courses. We provide interactive screen experiments (ISE) for supporting the work in a real laboratory, and for students who do not have access to a quantum optics laboratory. The main focus of the ISE is on undergraduate education, but some of the experiments are suitable for other levels of higher education as well.
Randomness is a valuable resource in science, cryptography, engineering, and information technology. Quantum-mechanical sources of randomness are attractive because of the indeterminism of individual quantum processes. Here, we consider the production of random bits from polarization measurements on photons. We first present a pedagogical discussion of how the quantum randomness inherent in such measurements is connected to quantum coherence, and how it can be quantified in terms of the quantum state and an associated entropy value known as min-entropy. We then explore these concepts by performing a series of single-photon experiments that are suitable for the undergraduate laboratory. We prepare photons in different nonentangled and entangled states, and measure these states tomographically. We use the information about the quantum state to determine, in terms of the min-entropy, the minimum amount of randomness produced from a given photon state by different bit-generating measurements. This is helpful in assessing the presence of quantum randomness and in ensuring the quality and security of the random-bit source.
We present a set of random number generator based on a quantum mechanical source,which is the process of splitting a beam of photons on a polarizing beam splitter.The randonmess of the polarizing photon is detected by the synchronous singlephoton coincidence detection technique.The random bit data are transferred to a personal computer via a digital I/O interface.The random numbers are tested by the Pseudorandom Number Sequence Test Program(ENT) which is the most popular random number test program in the world.The result is perfect.
Photons and laser beams provide an ideal situation to discuss some of the mysteries of quantum physics. There are many additional fundamental features which are not accessible with a classical system such as an electric current, which include: quantum noise, the uncertainty relation and correlations between different laser beams. Not only is the difference between the quantum behavior of photons and classical waves a curious effect, it is also important in many technical applications and forms the basis of future technologies, such as improved optical sensors or quantum cryptography. Using the example of a simple beam splitter and its effect on a laser beam one can explore these mysterious quantum effect with undergraduate students. We will discuss a systematic series of cases, using the beam splitter, which identify the difference between the quantum and the classical world. We will present the technical details of an experiment suitable for third year students that demonstrate genuine quantum noise effects.
We present the realization of a physical quantum random number generator based on the process of splitting a beam of photons on a beam splitter, a quantum mechanical source of true randomness. By utilizing either a beam splitter or a polarizing beam splitter, single photon detectors and high speed electronics the presented devices are capable of generating a binary random signal with an autocorrelation time of 11.8 ns and a continuous stream of random numbers at a rate of 1 Mbit/s. The randomness of the generated signals and numbers is shown by running a series of tests upon data samples. The devices described in this paper are built into compact housings and are simple to operate.
When single photons are used to code for individual bits, security can be guaranteed by exploiting Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. Binary information can be coded into two orthogonal states, such as polarization or relative phase (in an interferometer). To receive this information we require an analyzer able to discriminate between the two states in an error-free way. In a linear-polarization system a polarizing beam splitter is used with its axes aligned to the two possible polarization directions. However, using a polarizer at 45° to these directions will ensure a random output uncorrelated to the single-photon-coded bit stream. The principle of secure key sharing, or quantum cryptography, is that a random bit stream is encoded onto individual photons while randomly switching the coding basis between the 0° and 45° polarization bases (in general, any non-orthogonal measurement bases). The receiver also randomly switches between these basis, and information is shared only when a photon is received and the same basis is used for coding and for measurement. An initial experiment of this type was carried out by using faint pulses of polarized visible light over a 40-cm transmission distance.1