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Plasma Discharge as a Hardware Quantum Random Number Generator: From Atmospheric DBD to Hall Thruster Iodine Plasma

JOSE GOMEZ

Published Jul 31, 2026• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

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.

DOI
10.5281/zenodo.21715605

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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.
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