A true random number generator using time-dependent dielectric breakdown

Rok Žitko

Abstract Flicker (pink, 1/\(f\)) noise is ubiquitous in all electronic devices, including in oscillator circuits used in true random number generators (TRNGs) based on jitter. Flicker noise produces strong serial correlations with very slow decay in time. We present a stochastic model for counter-mode TRNGs that takes the effects of such time correlations into account. Key parameters in the model are the spectral strengths of the pink and white noise components, as well as the low-frequency cutoff for the flicker noise spectrum. The random bits are defined as the least significant bit of consecutive integer-valued count numbers. We present the dependence of autocorrelations and min-entropy of generated random bits on model parameters. The autocorrelation between the bits is suppressed by increasing the strength of either pink or white noise, but it remains long-ranged (power-law decay). The power-law exponent depends linearly on the strength of pink noise, while the prefactor depends exponentially on both strengths. We determine the min-entropy per bit from a careful analysis of long-time sequences. It approaches the value of 1 approximately as a stretched exponential function of the flicker noise strength: highly entropic random bit generators can thus be designed even in the presence of strong flicker noise. We also propose an effective and efficient online health test for generators of this type.

Yong Li, Zhou YanTao, Yan Liu

Zhiliang L. Yuan

Taehyun Park, Juhyung Seo, Nam Ju Kim +11 more

The pursuit of hardware-based security solutions has highlighted the true random number generator (TRNG). Various physical phenomena, from noise generation to quantum physics complexities, have been explored for random number generation. The arc discharge light-induced TRNG (ALTRNG) is introduced, featuring wavelength-dependent photocurrent generation and arc discharge irradiation. A bipolar photo-responsive photodetector (BPPD) differentiates "1" and "0" states, producing highly random bits validated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) 15 tests. The BPPD's response to deep-ultraviolet (DUV) and blue light enables distinct photocurrent generation under arc discharge illumination. The ALTRNG generates true random signals, yielding bit streams with unpredictability, uniform distribution, and stability. With a readout circuit achieving 2-kbps, wireless random number transmission is demonstrated, highlighting potential for secure password systems and artificial X-ray image generation.

Yuncai Wang

Zhenguo Lu, Shenshen Yang, Jianqiang Liu +2 more

High-speed true random number generator is a building block in the modern information security system. We propose and demonstrate an efficient high-speed true random number generator based on multiple parallel self-timed rings (STRs). To improve the security, we evaluate the randomness of the entropy source by min-entropy and exploit the information-theoretically provable Toeplitz-hashing extractor. To minimize the consumption of hardware resources of a field programmable gate array at a predetermined high throughput and maximize the throughput with the limited hardware resources, we systematically derive and investigate the dependence of the data throughput and the total consumed resources of the random number generator on the system parameters. On this basis, we make a joint optimization for the degree of parallelism of the STRs and the extraction efficiency of the extractor. A 10-Gbps true random number generator is implemented efficiently, so that the output random bits can pass all the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Dieharder test suites.