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EPJ Quantum Technology

Long term experimental verification of a single chip quantum random number generator fabricated on the InP platform

Themistoklis Chrysostomidis, Ioannis Roumpos, David Álvarez Outerelo, Marcos Troncoso Costas, Valentina Moskalenko, Juan Carlos García-Escartín, Francisco J. Díaz-Otero, Konstantinos Vyrsokinos

Published Feb 10, 2023• 11 citations

Abstract

Abstract This work presents the results from the experimental evaluation of a quantum random number generator circuit over a period of 300 minutes based on a single chip fabricated on the InP platform. The circuit layout contains a gain switched laser diode (LD), followed by a balanced Mach Zehnder Interferometer for proper light power distribution to the two arms of an unbalanced MZI incorporating a 65.4 mm long spiral waveguide that translates the random phase fluctuations to power variations. The LD was gain-switched at 1.3 GHz and the chip delivered a min-entropy of 0.5875 per bit after removal of the classical noise, resulting a total aggregate bit rate of 6.11 Gbps. The recoded data set successfully passed the 15-battery test NIST statistical test suite for all data sets.

DOI: 10.1140/epjqt/s40507-023-00162-5

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The quantum random number generator (QRNG) operates based on fundamental quantum mechanical principles to produce high-quality random numbers. Recently, chip-based QRNGs have garnered significant attention due to their compact size, low cost, and reduced power consumption. In this work, we demonstrate a hybrid integrated QRNG leveraging continuous-wave (CW) laser phase fluctuations. Using advanced hybrid packaging techniques, we integrate a tunable, unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer (uMZI), laser, and InGaAs photodiode (PD) within a 14-pin butterfly package. To enhance the long-term stability and reliability of the QRNG, a negative temperature coefficient (NTC) thermistor is also attached to the chip for thermal regulation. The resulting integrated QRNG has a footprint of just 30 mm × 12.7 mm, and delivers a random number generation rate of 4.68 Gbps after min-entropy evaluation and post-processing. The combination of compact size and high-speed performance makes this hybrid integrated QRNG ideal for high-speed, large-scale applications.

Random numbers are a fundamental resource in science and technology. Among the different approaches to generating them, random numbers created by exploiting the laws of quantum mechanics have proven to be reliable and can be produced at enough rates for their practical use. While these demonstrations have shown very good performance, most of the implementations using free-space and fibre optics, suffer from limitations due to their size, which strongly limits their practical use. Here we report a quantum random number generator based on phase fluctuations from a diode laser, where the other required optical components are integrated on a mm-scale monolithic silicon-on-insulator chip. Our device operates with generation rate in the Gbps regime and the output random numbers pass the NIST statistical tests. Considering the device's size, its simple, robust and low power operation, and the rapid industrial uptake of silicon photonics, we foresee the widespread integration of the reported design in more complex systems.