Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

Quantum Engineering

Practical quantum random‐number generation based on sampling vacuum fluctuations

Qiang Zhou, Raju Valivarthi, Caleb John, Wolfgang Tittel

Published Mar 1, 2019• 44 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Random-number generation is an enabling technology for fields as varied as Monte Carlo simulations and quantum information science, particularly secure quantum key distribution. Here, we propose and demonstrate an approach to random-number generation that satisfies the specific requirements for quantum key distribution. In our scheme, vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field inside a laser cavity are sampled in a discrete manner in time and amplified by injecting current pulses into the laser. Random numbers can be obtained by interfering the laser pulses with another independent laser operating at the same frequency. Using only off-the-shelf optoelectronics and fiber-optic components at a 1.5-μm wavelength, we experimentally demonstrate the generation of high-quality random bits at a rate of up to 1.5 GHz. Our results show the potential of the new scheme for practical information-processing applications.

DOI
10.1002/que2.8

Related papers

Practical quantum random number generator based on sampling vacuum fluctuations

Qiang Zhou, Raju Valivarthi, Caleb John +1 more

Random number generation is an enabling technology for fields as varied as Monte Carlo simulations and quantum information science. An important application is a secure quantum key distribution (QKD) system; here, we propose and demonstrate an approach to random number generation that satisfies the specific requirements for QKD. In our scheme, vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic-field inside a laser cavity are sampled in a discrete manner in time and amplified by injecting current pulses into the laser. Random numbers can be obtained by interfering the laser pulses with another independent laser operating at the same frequency. Using only off-the-shelf opto-electronics and fibre-optics components at 1.5 $μ$m wavelength, we experimentally demonstrate the generation of high-quality random bits at a rate of up to 1.5 GHz. Our results show the potential of the new scheme for practical information processing applications.

arXiv:1703.00559•Mar 2, 2017•10 citations

Quantum random number generation based on vacuum field fluctuations

Carlos Abellán

[ANGLÈS] Random numbers are extensively used in a broad range of applications. Nevertheless, there are two main markets from a commercial point of view: (i) secure communications and (ii) stochastic simulation. According to the generation rate and quality of the random numbers required, different approaches have been used so far, most of them based on pseudo-random number generation. However, these type of generators have already started showing weakness both in the quality and the generation rate. Thus, novel techniques based on physical processes are being studied and used nowadays. In this work an ultra-fast random number generator based on quantum vacuum fluctuations is demonstrated. Not only assuring the intrinsic randomness of quantum mechanics, but also being compliant with the speed needs of current applications. Employing a DFB laser diode in gain-switched mode and interferometry, the random phase generated in spontaneous emission events is translated into random amplitudes easily measurable using off-the-shelf components, i.e. measuring a quantum phenomena in a macroscopic way. Thus, using established models of semiconductor lasers, we predict a regime of high-visibility interference and nearly complete vacuum-fluctuation-induced phase diffusion between pulses. These predictions are confirmed by measurement of pulse amplitude statistics at the exit of the interferometer.

•Sep 9, 2013•1 citation

Fast quantum randomness generation from vacuum fluctuation induced phase diffusion between pulses of laser diode

Р. П. Ермаков, V. L. Kurochkin, Violetta Sharoglazova +3 more

In this paper, the prototype of quantum random number generator (QRNG) which is shown by extracting ran- domness from vacuum fluctuation of the electromagnetic field inside the laser cavity. A distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode (LD) is directly modulated to produce short optical pulses. The laser is operated far above and far below the threshold resulting in field of pulse which has a true random phase. The efficient conversion of vacuum fluctuations to random sequence of power of optical pulses is made by homemade Michelson interferom- eter. A proposed device has proven to have far more superior interferometric visibility coupled with high power making it also a cost-effective PIN diode detector as compared to QRNGs based on phase fluctuation modu- lated by constant current. As a result a proposed device is highly integrated using only commercially available components. Due to appropriate realization of our device, we have a good quality of raw random bits that have passed all tests without postprocessing. So the postprocessing doesn't significantly decrease the speed of output random bits. In fact, we have successfully demonstrated a prototype of high speed QRNG at a generation rate of over 1 Gbps.

International Conference on Micro- and Nano-Electronics (ICMNE)•Mar 15, 2019•0 citations

True random numbers from amplified quantum vacuum

Marc Jofre, Marcos Curty, Fabian Steinlechner +4 more

Random numbers are essential for applications ranging from secure communications to numerical simulation and quantitative finance. Algorithms can rapidly produce pseudo-random outcomes, series of numbers that mimic most properties of true random numbers while quantum random number generators (QRNGs) exploit intrinsic quantum randomness to produce true random numbers. Single-photon QRNGs are conceptually simple but produce few random bits per detection. In contrast, vacuum fluctuations are a vast resource for QRNGs: they are broad-band and thus can encode many random bits per second. Direct recording of vacuum fluctuations is possible, but requires shot-noise-limited detectors, at the cost of bandwidth. We demonstrate efficient conversion of vacuum fluctuations to true random bits using optical amplification of vacuum and interferometry. Using commercially-available optical components we demonstrate a QRNG at a bit rate of 1.11 Gbps. The proposed scheme has the potential to be extended to 10 Gbps and even up to 100 Gbps by taking advantage of high speed modulation sources and detectors for optical fiber telecommunication devices.

arXiv:1110.0599•Optics Express•Oct 3, 2011•180 citations

A Gaussian-Distributed Quantum Random Number Generator Using Vacuum Shot Noise

Min Huang, Ziyang Chen, Yichen Zhang +1 more

Among all the methods of extracting randomness, quantum random number generators are promising for their genuine randomness. However, existing quantum random number generator schemes aim at generating sequences with a uniform distribution, which may not meet the requirements of specific applications such as a continuous-variable quantum key distribution system. In this paper, we demonstrate a practical quantum random number generation scheme directly generating Gaussian distributed random sequences based on measuring vacuum shot noise. Particularly, the impact of the sampling device in the practical system is analyzed. Furthermore, a related post-processing method, which maintains the fine distribution and autocorrelation properties of raw data, is exploited to extend the precision of generated Gaussian distributed random numbers to over 20 bits, making the sequences possible to be utilized by the following system with requiring high precision numbers. Finally, the results of normality and randomness tests prove that the generated sequences satisfy Gaussian distribution and can pass the randomness testing well.

Entropy•Jun 2, 2020•18 citations

Phase-Randomized Laser Pulse Generation at 10 GHz for Quantum Photonic Applications

Yuen San Lo, Adam H. Brzosko, Peter R. Smith +7 more

Gain-switching of laser diodes is a well-established technique for generating optical pulses with random phases, where the quantum randomness arises naturally from spontaneous emission. However, the maximum switching rate is limited by the time required for phase diffusion: at high repetition rates, residual photons in the cavity seed subsequent pulses, leading to phase correlations, which degrade randomness. We present a method to overcome this limitation by employing an external source of spontaneous emission in conjunction with the laser. Our results show that this approach substantially suppresses interpulse phase correlations, restoring phase randomization at repetition rates as high as 10 GHz. This technique opens new opportunities for high-rate quantum key distribution and quantum random number generation.

quant-pharXiv:2601.04031•APL Photonics•Jan 8, 2026•1 citation
Random-number generation is an enabling technology for fields as varied as Monte Carlo simulations and quantum information science, particularly secure quantum key distribution. Here, we propose and demonstrate an approach to random-number generation that satisfies the specific requirements for quantum key distribution. In our scheme, vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic field inside a laser cavity are sampled in a discrete manner in time and amplified by injecting current pulses into the laser. Random numbers can be obtained by interfering the laser pulses with another independent laser operating at the same frequency. Using only off-the-shelf optoelectronics and fiber-optic components at a 1.5-μm wavelength, we experimentally demonstrate the generation of high-quality random bits at a rate of up to 1.5 GHz. Our results show the potential of the new scheme for practical information-processing applications.
Random number generation is an enabling technology for fields as varied as Monte Carlo simulations and quantum information science. An important application is a secure quantum key distribution (QKD) system; here, we propose and demonstrate an approach to random number generation that satisfies the specific requirements for QKD. In our scheme, vacuum fluctuations of the electromagnetic-field inside a laser cavity are sampled in a discrete manner in time and amplified by injecting current pulses into the laser. Random numbers can be obtained by interfering the laser pulses with another independent laser operating at the same frequency. Using only off-the-shelf opto-electronics and fibre-optics components at 1.5 μμμm wavelength, we experimentally demonstrate the generation of high-quality random bits at a rate of up to 1.5 GHz. Our results show the potential of the new scheme for practical information processing applications.
[ANGLÈS] Random numbers are extensively used in a broad range of applications. Nevertheless, there are two main markets from a commercial point of view: (i) secure communications and (ii) stochastic simulation. According to the generation rate and quality of the random numbers required, different approaches have been used so far, most of them based on pseudo-random number generation. However, these type of generators have already started showing weakness both in the quality and the generation rate. Thus, novel techniques based on physical processes are being studied and used nowadays. In this work an ultra-fast random number generator based on quantum vacuum fluctuations is demonstrated. Not only assuring the intrinsic randomness of quantum mechanics, but also being compliant with the speed needs of current applications. Employing a DFB laser diode in gain-switched mode and interferometry, the random phase generated in spontaneous emission events is translated into random amplitudes easily measurable using off-the-shelf components, i.e. measuring a quantum phenomena in a macroscopic way. Thus, using established models of semiconductor lasers, we predict a regime of high-visibility interference and nearly complete vacuum-fluctuation-induced phase diffusion between pulses. These predictions are confirmed by measurement of pulse amplitude statistics at the exit of the interferometer.
In this paper, the prototype of quantum random number generator (QRNG) which is shown by extracting ran- domness from vacuum fluctuation of the electromagnetic field inside the laser cavity. A distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode (LD) is directly modulated to produce short optical pulses. The laser is operated far above and far below the threshold resulting in field of pulse which has a true random phase. The efficient conversion of vacuum fluctuations to random sequence of power of optical pulses is made by homemade Michelson interferom- eter. A proposed device has proven to have far more superior interferometric visibility coupled with high power making it also a cost-effective PIN diode detector as compared to QRNGs based on phase fluctuation modu- lated by constant current. As a result a proposed device is highly integrated using only commercially available components. Due to appropriate realization of our device, we have a good quality of raw random bits that have passed all tests without postprocessing. So the postprocessing doesn't significantly decrease the speed of output random bits. In fact, we have successfully demonstrated a prototype of high speed QRNG at a generation rate of over 1 Gbps.
Random numbers are essential for applications ranging from secure communications to numerical simulation and quantitative finance. Algorithms can rapidly produce pseudo-random outcomes, series of numbers that mimic most properties of true random numbers while quantum random number generators (QRNGs) exploit intrinsic quantum randomness to produce true random numbers. Single-photon QRNGs are conceptually simple but produce few random bits per detection. In contrast, vacuum fluctuations are a vast resource for QRNGs: they are broad-band and thus can encode many random bits per second. Direct recording of vacuum fluctuations is possible, but requires shot-noise-limited detectors, at the cost of bandwidth. We demonstrate efficient conversion of vacuum fluctuations to true random bits using optical amplification of vacuum and interferometry. Using commercially-available optical components we demonstrate a QRNG at a bit rate of 1.11 Gbps. The proposed scheme has the potential to be extended to 10 Gbps and even up to 100 Gbps by taking advantage of high speed modulation sources and detectors for optical fiber telecommunication devices.
Among all the methods of extracting randomness, quantum random number generators are promising for their genuine randomness. However, existing quantum random number generator schemes aim at generating sequences with a uniform distribution, which may not meet the requirements of specific applications such as a continuous-variable quantum key distribution system. In this paper, we demonstrate a practical quantum random number generation scheme directly generating Gaussian distributed random sequences based on measuring vacuum shot noise. Particularly, the impact of the sampling device in the practical system is analyzed. Furthermore, a related post-processing method, which maintains the fine distribution and autocorrelation properties of raw data, is exploited to extend the precision of generated Gaussian distributed random numbers to over 20 bits, making the sequences possible to be utilized by the following system with requiring high precision numbers. Finally, the results of normality and randomness tests prove that the generated sequences satisfy Gaussian distribution and can pass the randomness testing well.
Gain-switching of laser diodes is a well-established technique for generating optical pulses with random phases, where the quantum randomness arises naturally from spontaneous emission. However, the maximum switching rate is limited by the time required for phase diffusion: at high repetition rates, residual photons in the cavity seed subsequent pulses, leading to phase correlations, which degrade randomness. We present a method to overcome this limitation by employing an external source of spontaneous emission in conjunction with the laser. Our results show that this approach substantially suppresses interpulse phase correlations, restoring phase randomization at repetition rates as high as 10 GHz. This technique opens new opportunities for high-rate quantum key distribution and quantum random number generation.