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IEEE photonics journal

Measurement-Device-Independent Quantum Random-Number Generator With Source Flaws

Tao Wu, Chunhui Zhang, Xingyu Zhou, Jian Li, Qin Wang

Published Nov 9, 2023• 5 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The measurement-device-independent quantum random number generator (MDI-QRNG) can resist all security loopholes on measurement devices, and it thus seems very promising in practical implementations. In the MDI-QRNG, sources are often assumed to be perfectly prepared, however, there inevitably exist errors in the quantum state preparation process due to imperfections in realistic equipments and devices. In this paper, we do investigations on the MDI-QRNG with source flaws, showing its performance at different state errors. Besides, we also consider the influence of the finite-size effect, and compare the performance of different sources in MDI-QRNGs. This work provides valuable references for practical implementation of MDI-QRNGs

DOI
10.1109/jphot.2023.3331547

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The measurement-device-independent quantum random number generator (MDI-QRNG) can resist all security loopholes on measurement devices, and it thus seems very promising in practical implementations. In the MDI-QRNG, sources are often assumed to be perfectly prepared, however, there inevitably exist errors in the quantum state preparation process due to imperfections in realistic equipments and devices. In this paper, we do investigations on the MDI-QRNG with source flaws, showing its performance at different state errors. Besides, we also consider the influence of the finite-size effect, and compare the performance of different sources in MDI-QRNGs. This work provides valuable references for practical implementation of MDI-QRNGs
Recently, a source-independent quantum random number generator (SI-QRNG), which can generate secure random numbers with untrusted sources, has been realized. However, the measurement loopholes of the trusted but imperfect devices used in SI-QRNGs have not yet been fully explored. Here, we point out and evaluate the security loopholes of practical imperfect measurement devices in SI-QRNGs. We also provide corresponding countermeasures to prevent these information leakages by recalculating the conditional minimum entropy and adding a monitor. Furthermore, by taking into account the finite-size effect, we show that the influence of the afterpulse can exceed that of the finite-size effect with the large number of sampled rounds. Our protocol is simple and effective, and it promotes the security of SI-QRNG in practice as well as the compatibility with high-speed measurement evices, thus paving the way for constructing ultrafast and security-certified commercial SI-QRNG systems.
Abstract A quantum random number generator (QRNG) as a genuine source of randomness is essential in many applications, such as number simulation and cryptography. Recently, a source-independent quantum random number generator (SI-QRNG), which can generate secure random numbers with untrusted sources, has been realized. However, the measurement loopholes of the trusted but imperfect devices used in SI-QRNGs have not yet been fully explored, which will cause security problems, especially in high-speed systems. Here, we point out and evaluate the security loopholes of practical imperfect measurement devices in SI-QRNGs. We also provide corresponding countermeasures to prevent these information leakages by recalculating the conditional minimum entropy and adding a monitor. Furthermore, by taking into account the finite-size effect, we show that the influence of the afterpulse can exceed that of the finite-size effect with the large number of sampled rounds. Our protocol is simple and effective, and it promotes the security of SI-QRNG in practice as well as the compatibility with high-speed measurement devices, thus paving the way for constructing ultrafast and security-certified commercial SI-QRNG systems.
The randomness from a quantum random-number generator (QRNG) relies on the accurate characterization of its devices. However, device imperfections and inaccurate characterizations can result in wrong entropy estimation and bias in practice, which highly affects the genuine randomness generation and may even induce the disappearance of quantum randomness in an extreme case. Here we experimentally demonstrate a measurement-device-independent (MDI) QRNG based on time-bin encoding to achieve certified quantum randomness even when the measurement devices are uncharacterized and untrusted. The MDI-QRNG is randomly switched between the regular randomness generation mode and a test mode, in which four quantum states are randomly prepared to perform measurement tomography in real time. With a clock rate of 25 MHz, the MDI-QRNG generates a final random bit rate of 5.7 kbps. Such implementation with an all-fiber setup provides an approach to construct a fully integrated MDI-QRNG with trusted but error-prone devices in practice.
Abstract Reference-frame-independent measurement-device-independent quantum key distribution (RFI-MDI-QKD) can remove all potential detector side-channel attacks and the requirement of real-time alignment of reference frames. However, all previous RFI-MDI-QKD implementations assume the perfect state preparation in sources, which is impractical and may lead to security loopholes. Here, we propose an RFI-MDI-QKD protocol which is robust against state preparation flaws. Comparing to the conventional six-state RFI-MDI-QKD, our scheme can be realized with only four flawed states, which improves the practical security of RFI-MDI-QKD and simplifies the experimental implementation. In addition, simulation results demonstrate that source flaws in Z basis have adverse effect on the performance of RFI-MDI-QKD while the source flaws in X and Y bases have almost no effect. We hope that this work could provide a valuable reference for practical implementations of RFI-MDI-QKD.
Quantum random number generators (QRNGs) produce true random numbers based on the inherent randomness of quantum theory, rendering them a foundational segment of quantum cryptography. Distinguished from trusted-device QRNGs whose security depends on characterized devices, semi-device-independent (semi-DI) QRNGs permit partial devices to be defective or even maliciously manipulated, which achieves a good trade-off between generation rate and security. In this paper, we propose a semi-DI QRNG that resists general attacks while accounting for finite-size effects. The protocol requires no rigorous characterization of the source and measurement devices other than limiting the energy of the emitted states, significantly reducing the demands on practical QRNG systems. Leveraging the tight Kato inequality for correlated variables, we show that our protocol generates more randomness than it consumes. Furthermore, we demonstrate the scheme on a continuous-variable system with ternary inputs of states. Heterodyne detection is employed to enable phase compensation through data postprocessing, alleviating the stringent requirement on system stability. The system operates at 100 MHz, achieving a net random number generation rate of 1.165 Mbps at 5.3x10^9 rounds. Our work offers a promising approach to achieve both the robust security and high generation rate with a simple experimental setup.
Without any assumption on detectors, measurement-device-independent quantum random-number generators (MDI QRNGs) with high generation rates have attracted lots of attention lately. However, the influence of statistical fluctuations on randomness extraction rate has not been taken into full consideration, which is crucial in the practical applications of MDI QRNGs. We propose a solution for MDI QRNGs, study the influence of statistical fluctuations, and apply an optimizing method to solve the lower bound of randomness extraction rate. Then the rate is simulated under reasonable values of some observed parameters, and it displays that the QRNG generates $6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{4}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}\text{bit}/\text{s}$, if the transmission loss is 10 dB and the number of pulses sent from the source is N=1012N={10}^{12}N=1012. Compared with the rates of other MDI QRNGs, our simulation outputs are with genuine randomness, since the statistical fluctuations of all parameters are considered.