Single photon avalanche diode (SPAD) array quenching and a novel quantum random number generator (QRNG)

Benjamin Saft, Alexander Zimmer, Jakob Hampel +3 more

S. Ejdehakosh, Misagh Ansarian, Mohammad Azim Karami

Alija Dervić, Nikša Tadić, Hiwa Mahmoudi +3 more

Experimental demonstration of a quantum random number generator based on one single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) detector, a T / ( T − t ) pulse-shaped laser, and an field-programmable gate array (FPGA) acquisition module is presented. An integrated laser driver drives an external laser diode at 670 nm wavelength, whereas the SPAD with a photon detection probability of 18.5% is integrated together with an active quenching-resetting circuit. The SPAD detector generates counts for the interarrival time (IAT) measurement system implemented in an FPGA, where the change of the IATs between consecutive pulses is used to derive a random bit stream. It is shown how the application of a pulse-shaped laser driver can increase the performance of the system as compared to the continuous-wave operation of the laser diode to achieve the maximum generation rate of 5 Mbps while using a single SPAD. The generated numbers pass all randomness tests of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Dieharder, and ENT test (pseudorandom number sequence test) suits.

李杨, 廖胜凯, 梁福田 +3 more

Horst Zimmermann, David Bugl, Bernhard Goll +3 more

This work describes a monolithically integrated photonic quantum random number generator (QRNG) in$0.35 \mu ~\mathrm{m}$CMOS. This QRNG consists of a light-emitting diode inside a deep N-well, a ring single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD), a fast cascoded active quenching and resetting circuit, and an analog evaluation circuit determining whether the random bit is a “0” or “1”. The random bits are created by comparison of two consecutive time intervals between photon detections using charging and discharging a capacitor with a constant current as well as a comparator. The time intervals can be in the range from 10 ns to$10 \mu ~\mathrm{s}$. With$\pm 3.3 ~\mathrm{V}$supply voltage, the power consumption of the complete circuits is between 1.1 mW and 4.55 mW depending on the LED emission and detection rate of the SPAD. After XOR-hashing, the NIST tests were passed.

Alessandro Tontini, Leonardo Gasparini, Nicola Massari +1 more

We present a compact, all-solid-state, low-cost quantum random number generator (QRNG) based on a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) and a field programmable gate array (FPGA). A new algorithm for random bit generation is described, ranking the inter-arrival times of a group of M photons detected by the SPAD device, and processed directly on the FPGA. The proposed approach improves the efficiency of generated random bits per detected photon, spanning from 0.5 bits/photon in case of 0 order rank, up to 0.875 bits/photon for second order rank. By extending the algorithm to higher orders, the proposed system approaches the maximum theoretical value of 1.0 bit/photon. The rate of generation of random numbers is limited by the SPAD minimum deadtime, achieving an experimentally proven bit rate of 7.3 Mbps. The standard randomness statistical tests are passed for a wide range of photon fluxes and for all the implemented rank orders with no additional post-processing on the generated sequence.