This dissertation is the result of research which, although electrical and computer engineering in nature, also aims to improve the performance of many systems in the field of quantum information. For example, random number generators are used in almost all areas of science, and the initial portion of this work details the theory, design, and characterization of two photon-arrival-time quantum random number generators (QRNGs). After the QRNGs were completed, it was realized that their performance was severely limited both by the maximum detection rate of the single-photon detectors used, and the precision at which the arrival times could be resolved. The single-photon detectors used for both QRNGs are single-photon avalanche photodiodes (SPADs), devices which when operated below their breakdown voltage can create a macroscopic amount of current (an avalanche) in response to a single incident photon. Some of this charge can become trapped in defects or impurities; if this trapped charge is released when the SPAD is active, a secondary ‘false’ detection event, or ‘afterpulse’ can occur. To lower the afterpulse probability to reasonable levels (< 1%), we attempted to reduce the amount of avalanche charge by halting its growth promptly with high-speed electronics, so that defects have a lower probability of becoming populated in the first place. Initial results show reductions in afterpulse probability by up to a factor of 12, corresponding to a ~20% decrease in dead time, a value that could be improved further. We developed an FPGA-based time-to-digital converter system for use specifically with SPADs, achieving a time-bin resolution of 100 ps, with lower dead time and higher maximum detection rate than all currently available detection systems. This further allowed for the creation of a new higher-order SPAD characterization technique, which was identified previously unknown subtleties to SPAD operation. Finally, we developed an ultra-low-latency QRNG, which was used in one of the recent loophole-free demonstrations of quantum nonlocality. The final latency was below 2.5 ns, to our knowledge the lowest latency QRNG to date. Of special interest, however, is our subsequent exploration into the characterization of its bit-probability drift using atomic clock stability techniques. By employing the Allan deviation and implementing precision feedback, the additional frequency drift caused by environmental fluctuations is reduced such that the resulting bit stream can pass cryptographic random number tests for sample sizes up to 5 Gb. This system is currently intended for the NIST random-number beacon, a world-wide trusted source of random bits.
This dissertation is the result of research which, although electrical and computer engineering in nature, also aims to improve the performance of many systems in the field of quantum information. For example, random number generators are used in almost all areas of science, and the initial portion of this work details the theory, design, and characterization of two photon-arrival-time quantum random number generators (QRNGs). After the QRNGs were completed, it was realized that their performance was severely limited both by the maximum detection rate of the single-photon detectors used, and the precision at which the arrival times could be resolved. The single-photon detectors used for both QRNGs are single-photon avalanche photodiodes (SPADs), devices which when operated below their breakdown voltage can create a macroscopic amount of current (an avalanche) in response to a single incident photon. Some of this charge can become trapped in defects or impurities; if this trapped charge is released when the SPAD is active, a secondary ‘false’ detection event, or ‘afterpulse’ can occur. To lower the afterpulse probability to reasonable levels (< 1%), we attempted to reduce the amount of avalanche charge by halting its growth promptly with high-speed electronics, so that defects have a lower probability of becoming populated in the first place. Initial results show reductions in afterpulse probability by up to a factor of 12, corresponding to a ~20% decrease in dead time, a value that could be improved further. We developed an FPGA-based time-to-digital converter system for use specifically with SPADs, achieving a time-bin resolution of 100 ps, with lower dead time and higher maximum detection rate than all currently available detection systems. This further allowed for the creation of a new higher-order SPAD characterization technique, which was identified previously unknown subtleties to SPAD operation. Finally, we developed an ultra-low-latency QRNG, which was used in one of the recent loophole-free demonstrations of quantum nonlocality. The final latency was below 2.5 ns, to our knowledge the lowest latency QRNG to date. Of special interest, however, is our subsequent exploration into the characterization of its bit-probability drift using atomic clock stability techniques. By employing the Allan deviation and implementing precision feedback, the additional frequency drift caused by environmental fluctuations is reduced such that the resulting bit stream can pass cryptographic random number tests for sample sizes up to 5 Gb. This system is currently intended for the NIST random-number beacon, a world-wide trusted source of random bits.
A quantum random generator based on photon detection is here presented. The system consists of a photon source, typically a commercial LED, coupled with a detector with single photon detection capability. The detector is composed of a Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) and a time stamp circuit, which samples the arrival time of impinging photons within a predefined temporal window. The proposed implementation optimizes the area, allowing embedding all circuitry into a single pixel, and increases the efficiency of random bit extraction. Moreover, the adopted fast pre-charge mode of the SPAD quenching circuit reduces the afterpulsing probability, and hence possible undesirable correlation in the resulting random bit sequence. Thanks to the implemented random bit extraction, experimental results show that the pixel has a flat behavior for a significant range of light intensity, which makes the pixel robust against variations of external PVT parameters. The maximum achievable bit rate has been measured equal to 1 Mbps, while random sequences are shown to pass NIST tests without any post-processing.
Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes (SPADs) are solid-state photo-detectors capable of detecting single photons by exploiting the avalanche effect that occurs in the breakdown of a p-n junction biased above breakdown voltage. By this effect, a SPAD translates an incoming photon to a macroscopic current pulse. These devices are currently used for building medical devices characterized by a very high time resolution. An appealing application of SPAD is to use them as a basic block for building the entropy source of true random number generators. In this paper we focus on such application, and we explore the design challenges behind the realization of a quantum random number generator based on a massively parallel array of SPADs. The matrix under investigation comprises 512×128 independent cells that convert photons onto a raw bit-stream, which, as ensured by the properties of quantum physics, is characterized by a very high level of randomness. The sequences are read out in a 128-bit parallel bus, concatenated, and pipelined onto a de-biasing filter. Subsequently, we fabricated the proposed chip using a standard CMOS process. Our results, achieved on the manufactured device and coupling two matrices, show that our architecture can reach up to 5 Gbit/s while consuming 25pJ/bit, thus demonstrating scalability and performance for any random number generators based on SPADs.
Quantum technologies are rapidly transforming the landscape of secure communication and computation by exploiting the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics. Among these, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) offers an unprecedented level of security in communications, provided by physical principles rather than computational assumptions. However, the realization of scalable and practical quantum networks remains challenging. Key technological hurdles include the need for high-sensitivity and high-speed single-photon detectors, stable and integrated optical platforms, and robust and fast true random number generators. Overcoming these challenges is essential to bridge the gap between laboratory demonstrations and the real-world deployment of quantum networks. This thesis addresses some of these critical issues through work in single-photon detection technologies, integrated QKD system implementation, and high-speed Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs). Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes are fundamental detectors for quantum technologies, enabling high-sensitivity measurements at the single-photon level. This thesis investigates the operating principles, limitations, and advancements of Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes, with a focus on high-speed dual-anode designs. Their photon detection efficiency, dark count rate, afterpulsing probability, and timing jitter are analyzed, while optimized control electronics and capacitance management strategies are developed. The characterization of Single-Photon Avalanche Diodes demonstrates their suitability for quantum communication, particularly in quantum key distribution and asynchronous heralded photon sources, with pathways for further improvements in speed and integration. Building on these detector technologies, a proof-of-principle integrated quantum key distribution system based on the BB84 protocol is presented. The system incorporates time-bin encoding, decoy-state methods, and photonic integrated circuits for both transmitter and receiver. Key challenges, such as chromatic dispersion and interferometer stability, are addressed through novel circuit and system-level designs. System-level testing and field deployment validate the feasibility of compact, high-performance integrated quantum key distribution implementations. Finally, the thesis explores quantum random number generation through semi-device-independent protocols. An experimental homodyne-based SDI-QRNG is realized, supported by custom transimpedance amplifier design and photonic integrated circuit integration. The setup achieves high bandwidth, strong quantum-to-classical noise separation, and stable operation, enabling practical random number generation rooted in fundamental quantum processes. Overall, this work advances the development of integrated quantum technologies by improving room-temperature single-photon detection, demonstrating scalable QKD prototypes, and implementing a high-speed QRNG. Together, these contributions pave the way toward secure, integrated quantum communication systems and practical quantum information applications ready to deploy in real world networks.
This thesis work is about the realization of hardware and software systems for Quantum Random Number Generation (QRNG) and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD). Such systems were developed to guarantee a full functionality for a broader investigation of these two cutting edge applications of Quantum Information field. The thesis describes in details both the hardware and the software that were developed for FPGA-CPU board, Time-to-Digital converter (TDC) devices and computers, along with QRNG and QKD specific applications and their results. Randy was the first FPGA-based QRNG device to be developed; it uses a light source attenuated to single-photon level and one single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD). From the sampling of the SPAD electrical signal, the device produces random numbers through dedicated generation protocols and through the Peres unbiasing algorithm in order to maximize the output generation bit rate. Furthermore, the device allows to generate real time random numbers. This feature is used for the time setting of electro-optical components for extending Wheeler’s delayed-choice experiment to space. The same techniques were applied to a second device, LinoSPAD; it combines an FPGA-chip and a CMOS-SPADs array. Moreover, in this device, a TDC improves the photon detection time accuracy. Along with a dedicated post-processing based on Zhou-Bruk algorithm, the TDC allowed to reach a final bit rate equivalent to 300 Mbit/s. As far as QKD systems are concerned, within the collaboration among the University of Padova, the Italian Space Agency (ASI) with the Matera Laser Ranging Observatory (MLRO) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) a TDC device management software was developed. The project aim is to realize a quantum cryptographic key exchange between the Chinese satellite Micius and MLRO. The software was designed to manage the entire data acquisition synchronized with UTC time. Furthermore, another software was designed to deal with electro-optomechanical and electro-optical components. The software is aim at the time-variant compensation of the beam angular changes through the optical path. Once again, within a collaboration between ASI and University of Padova, a full free space QKD system over tenths of kilometers was developed. It required the design of various components. This work describes the QKD source along with the dedicated FPGA board design. Such board generates the electrical impulses to control the qubit laser along with the electro-optic phase and intensity modulators.
During this thesis work, two approaches to single-photon detection at telecom wavelengths have been investigated. The first one focuses on improving the performance of commercially available semiconductor single photon avalanche diodes (SPADs) to meet quantum communication requirements, and the second one describes the development and characterization of large active-area superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs). On the application side, quantum random number generation (QRNG) was implemented using two schemes based on two different types of single photon detectors activated by a LED.
In today's digital life, security and encryption are becoming more and more important. As random number generators are a fundamental block of security and encryption, it is crucial to guarantee that these devices operate securely. Random numbers are usually generated in two ways; pseudo random number generators (PRNGs) and true random random number generators (TRNGs). PRNGs output a sequence based on a seed and a mathematical function. The deterministic nature of pseudo RNG devices can result in the PRNG not being applicable for all protocols, in which case TRNGs are needed. Almost all strong cryptography requires TRNGs to generate keys. The difference is that these devices instead rely on real world physics in order to generate a random number. The TRNG implementation explored in this thesis makes use of the quantum mechanical properties of photons. TRNGs making use of this principle of elementary quantum mechanical decision making are called quantum random number generators (QRNGs). This source of entropy provided by photons can be extracted by utilizing SPADs. QRNG devices based on SPADs have been made before in different ways, however there are still large grounds undiscovered when concerning SPAD based designs. As SPAD based QRNGs can be completely produced using CMOS technology, a world of possibilities open, including integration with already existing designs. Different aspects of SPAD QRNG designs will be discussed in this thesis; size, speed, hybrid designs and QRNG test-benching. The first part of the exploration focuses on creating an as small as possible QRNG. This resulted in a QRNG design which is as small as just one flip-flop and one SPAD, which is the smallest QRNG at the time of writing to the authors knowledge. Simulations show that the device is able to run up to 25 Mb/s using a SPAD with low deadtime. This device has been produced using 140nm technology by STMicroelectronics. The second part of the exploration, delves into how fast a SPAD based QRNG can be. The main goals here were to make the fastest possible QRNG with good scalability characteristics. This resulted in a design proposition based on the difference in the time of flight of two photons. This design is simulated using Matlab, and can reach 70 Mb/s per SPAD-duo depending on the deadtime of the SPAD used. When using a SPAD with a deadtime of 1us, the scaled up design needs only 16% of the SPADS needed by a state-of-the-art SPAD based QRNG design based on simulations. The amount of SPADs needed however schales almost linearly with a lower deadtime, having the potential to need only a fraction of the SPADs needed by the state-of-the-art in order to reach the same speeds. Then the concept of hybrid devices is explored, making use of a combination of PRNG and QRNG systems. The first hybrid design proposed is a design in which a very small QRNG is used to generate the key for multiple secure PRNG systems. The PRNG system used in this design is a trivium stream cypher. The design is completely written in VHDL except for the external QRNG. It then has been compiled and simulated using ModelSim, again using 140nm technology by STMicroelectronics. This resulted in a design which is able to reach speeds of 640 Gb/s, while using a total area of 99936 um2. The second hybrid device proposes a LFSR based design, which makes use of multiple very small QRNG devices to influence the function that the LFSR implements in order to increase the security. The last part of the exploration explores how it can be made easier and faster to test QRNG designs in an early design stage more accurately. As the source of entropy is quantum, the only risk of affecting the randomness is purely in which form the data of the photons is processed. By creating a chip which is able to extract the time of flight and the exact location of where the photon hit, testing potential QRNG devices can already be done in an early design stage with real-time data. A part of the chip that measures the time of flight of the photons arriving, has been designed in 40nm technology by STMicroelectronics. This part is a novel counter based on the principle of Gray counting, and is simulated extensively using extracted layout simulations. These simulations show that the device is able to run at speeds up to 3.6 GHz.