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Extracting random numbers from quantum tunnelling through a single diode

Extracting random numbers from quantum tunnelling through a single diode
Extracting random numbers from quantum tunnelling through a single diode

Random number generation is crucial in many aspects of everyday life, as online security and privacy depend ultimately on the quality of random numbers. Many current implementations are based on pseudo-random number generators, but information security requires true random numbers for sensitive applications like key generation in banking, defence or even social media. True random number generators are systems whose outputs cannot be determined, even if their internal structure and response history are known. Sources of quantum noise are thus ideal for this application due to their intrinsic uncertainty. In this work, we propose using resonant tunnelling diodes as practical true random number generators based on a quantum mechanical effect. The output of the proposed devices can be directly used as a random stream of bits or can be further distilled using randomness extraction algorithms, depending on the application.

2045-2322
1-6
Bernardo-Gavito, Ramón
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Bagci, Ibrahim Ethem
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Roberts, Jonathan
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Sexton, James
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Astbury, Benjamin
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Shokeir, Hamzah
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McGrath, Thomas
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Noori, Yasir J.
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Woodhead, Christopher S.
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Missous, Mohamed
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Roedig, Utz
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Young, Robert J.
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Bernardo-Gavito, Ramón
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Bagci, Ibrahim Ethem
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Roberts, Jonathan
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Sexton, James
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Astbury, Benjamin
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Shokeir, Hamzah
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McGrath, Thomas
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Noori, Yasir J.
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Woodhead, Christopher S.
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Missous, Mohamed
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Roedig, Utz
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Young, Robert J.
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Bernardo-Gavito, Ramón, Bagci, Ibrahim Ethem, Roberts, Jonathan, Sexton, James, Astbury, Benjamin, Shokeir, Hamzah, McGrath, Thomas, Noori, Yasir J., Woodhead, Christopher S., Missous, Mohamed, Roedig, Utz and Young, Robert J. (2017) Extracting random numbers from quantum tunnelling through a single diode. Scientific Reports, 7 (1), 1-6, [17879]. (doi:10.1038/s41598-017-18161-9).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Random number generation is crucial in many aspects of everyday life, as online security and privacy depend ultimately on the quality of random numbers. Many current implementations are based on pseudo-random number generators, but information security requires true random numbers for sensitive applications like key generation in banking, defence or even social media. True random number generators are systems whose outputs cannot be determined, even if their internal structure and response history are known. Sources of quantum noise are thus ideal for this application due to their intrinsic uncertainty. In this work, we propose using resonant tunnelling diodes as practical true random number generators based on a quantum mechanical effect. The output of the proposed devices can be directly used as a random stream of bits or can be further distilled using randomness extraction algorithms, depending on the application.

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s41598-017-18161-9 - Version of Record
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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 6 December 2017
e-pub ahead of print date: 19 December 2017
Published date: December 2017

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 425676
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/425676
ISSN: 2045-2322
PURE UUID: 59108b5e-a130-4b3f-b357-15cbaea94f97
ORCID for Yasir J. Noori: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5285-8779

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 31 Oct 2018 17:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 04:37

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Contributors

Author: Ramón Bernardo-Gavito
Author: Ibrahim Ethem Bagci
Author: Jonathan Roberts
Author: James Sexton
Author: Benjamin Astbury
Author: Hamzah Shokeir
Author: Thomas McGrath
Author: Yasir J. Noori ORCID iD
Author: Christopher S. Woodhead
Author: Mohamed Missous
Author: Utz Roedig
Author: Robert J. Young

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