We demonstrate that plasma discharge — in both atmospheric dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and Hall effect thruster (HET) iodine plasma configurations — constitutes a practical hardware quantum random number generator (QRNG). A $35 atmospheric DBD device using a flyback transformer recovered from a discarded CRT television generates a physical entropy stream satisfying NIST SP 800-90B requirements. A zero-additional-cost iodine plasma QRNG derived from the GHT-1 Hall effect thruster uses its existing INA219 I²C current sensor to harvest quantum entropy from the 200V DC iodine discharge — giving the thruster a dual function as both propulsion system and flight-grade QRNG. Both implementations produce output satisfying NIST SP 800-22. Complete open-hardware designs are provided.
We demonstrate that plasma discharge — in both atmospheric dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and Hall effect thruster (HET) iodine plasma configurations — constitutes a practical hardware quantum random number generator (QRNG). A $35 atmospheric DBD device using a flyback transformer recovered from a discarded CRT television generates a physical entropy stream satisfying NIST SP 800-90B requirements. A zero-additional-cost iodine plasma QRNG derived from the GHT-1 Hall effect thruster uses its existing INA219 I²C current sensor to harvest quantum entropy from the 200V DC iodine discharge — giving the thruster a dual function as both propulsion system and flight-grade QRNG. Both implementations produce output satisfying NIST SP 800-22. Complete open-hardware designs are provided.
Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs) exploit intrinsic quantum mechanical randomness and are promising candidates for higher-quality randomness than classical RNGs. However, QRNGs on Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum (NISQ) platforms are constrained by decoherence, gate and measurement errors, and limited circuit depth, and the resulting impact on statistical randomness is not yet systematically characterized. This work introduces parameterized quantum random number generator (PQRNG) architectures built from parameterized quantum circuits (PQCs) to improve tunability and expressive power under realistic noise. We study three architectures, PQC-H-CH, H-PQC-CH, and H-CH-PQC, and evaluate their randomness under Transpiler optimization and circuit-level error mitigation as preprocessing steps, using NIST SP 800-22 for statistical validation. Utilizing default NIST settings, PQC-H-CH attains the largest number of fully passing preprocessing configurations (126 combinations passing all 15 tests), compared with 110 for H-PQC-CH and 69 for H-CH-PQC, indicating strong robustness across Transpiler optimization and mitigation settings, and we find that preprocessing choices influence randomness quality more strongly than adjusting NIST test parameters. Overall, these results demonstrate that the proposed approach provides a solid foundation for developing more reliable and practical QRNGs using PQCs in NISQ devices.
In this paper, we proposed an experimental implementation of quantum random number generator(QRNG) with inherent randomness of quantum tunneling effect of electrons. We exploited InGaAs/InP diodes, whose valance band and conduction band shared a quasi-constant energy barrier. We applied a bias voltage on the InGaAs/InP avalanche diode, which made the diode works under Geiger mode, and triggered the tunneling events with a periodic pulse. Finally, after data collection and post-processing, our quantum random number generation rate reached 8Mb/s, and final data was verified by NIST test and Diehard test. Our experiment is characterized as an innovative low-cost, photonic source free, integratable or even chip-achievable method in quantum random number generation.
Quantum random number generators (QRNG) are the prime source of randomness, by exploiting the unpredictable nature of Quantum mechanics QRNG aims to provide a string of completely random utterly unpredictable numbers. QRNGs are crucial for cryptography, scientific calculation, simulation, and many more real-world applications. Our Optical Quantum Random Number Generator (OQRNG) utilizes a high-speed pulsating laser, a Polarizing beam splitter (PBS), photodetectors, and advanced signal processing units that capture and digitize random photon intensity forming the raw random bit stream. This technique is famously known as Branching Path Technique. After that, we implement rigorous testing that encompasses the statistical randomness tests developed by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to ensure the guaranteed ran-domness meets security standards. A user-friendly Graphic user interface (GUI) simplifies interaction with the QRNG allowing the user to configure device settings, monitor system performance, and securely extract random numbers. Our findings help us demonstrate the superiority of QRNGs over classical random number generators, and highlight the potential of photon-based QRNGs and their environmentally friendly and efficient random number generation.
Quantum random-number generators (QRNGs) produce true random numbers, which are guaranteed by the fundamental principles of quantum physics. Miniaturization of QRNGs is crucial for a wide range of communication and cryptography applications. Here, we first report a fully functional QRNG chip based on vacuum-state fluctuations, with dimensions of $16.6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}7.8\phantom{\rule{0.2em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{mm}}^{2}$. The quantum entropy source, which is achieved via hybrid photonic integration with an SiO2 waveguide, generates raw quantum random numbers. The hybrid photonic and electrical components are assembled into a compact ceramic package using system-in-package technology. A microcontroller unit acquires the raw data and outputs the processed quantum random numbers via a serial peripheral interface. According to the characterization results, the QRNG chip achieves a constant real-time output rate of 5.2 Mbps across the industrial temperature range of $\ensuremath{-}40$ to $85{\phantom{\rule{0.1em}{0ex}}}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}\mathrm{C}$, making it suitable for practical applications.
Quantum random number generators (QRNGs) harness the inherent unpredictability of quantum processes to generate true randomness, a critical resource for cryptography, secure communications, and emerging quantum technologies. In this paper, I will present a compact and scalable QRNG architecture based on micro-light-emitting diodes (micro-LEDs), which serve as entropy sources by exploiting the intensity fluctuations of spontaneous emission. Our system, using a micro-LED, achieves a bandwidth-limited generation rate of 9.375 Gbit/s, while meeting the statistical randomness requirements specified by the NIST test suite. Our work lays the foundation for parallel QRNG integration on chip, enabling ultra-high-rate quantum random number generation in miniaturized, energy-efficient, and practical platforms. The implications of this advancement span from secure data and hardward to next-generation cryptographic systems.