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Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics

Random number generation using spontaneous symmetry breaking in a Kerr resonator

Liam Quinn, Gang Xu, Zongda Li, Julien Fatome, Stuart G. Murdoch, Miro J. Erkintalo, Stéphane Coen

Published Jan 1, 2022• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

We present an all-optical random number generator based on polarization symmetry breaking in a passive, nonlinear Kerr cavity. The system generates numbers with statistically confirmed randomness at MHz rates with no post-processing.
DOI
10.1364/cleo_at.2022.jtu3a.39

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We exploit polarization self-rotation (PSR) in atomic rubidium vapor to observe spontaneous symmetry breaking and bistability of polarization patterns. We pump the vapor cell with horizontally polarized light while the vertical polarization, which is initially in the vacuum state, is resonated in a ring cavity. Microscopic field fluctuations in this mode experience cumulative gain due to the compound action of amplification due to the self-rotation and feedback through the resonator, eventually acquiring a macroscopic magnitude akin to an optical parametric oscillator. The randomness of these fluctuations results in a bistable, random macroscopic polarization pattern at the output. We propose utilizing this mechanism to simulate an Ising-like interaction between multiple spatial modes and as a basis for a fully optical coherent Ising machine (CIM).