Quantum random number generators

Miguel Herrero-Collantes and Juan Carlos Garcia-Escartin
Rev. Mod. Phys. 89, 015004 – Published 22 February 2017

Abstract

Random numbers are a fundamental resource in science and engineering with important applications in simulation and cryptography. The inherent randomness at the core of quantum mechanics makes quantum systems a perfect source of entropy. Quantum random number generation is one of the most mature quantum technologies with many alternative generation methods. This review discusses the different technologies in quantum random number generation from the early devices based on radioactive decay to the multiple ways to use the quantum states of light to gather entropy from a quantum origin. Randomness extraction and amplification and the notable possibility of generating trusted random numbers even with untrusted hardware using device-independent generation protocols are also discussed.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
6 More
  • Received 16 March 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.89.015004

© 2017 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Quantum Information, Science & Technology

Authors & Affiliations

Miguel Herrero-Collantes*

  • Instituto Nacional de Ciberseguridad, Avenida José Aguado, 41, Edificio INCIBE 24005, León, Spain and EI Telecomunicación, Department of Signal Theory and Communications, University of Vigo, Campus Universitario Lagoas-Marcosende, E-36310 Vigo, Spain

Juan Carlos Garcia-Escartin

  • Universidad de Valladolid, Dpto. Teoría de la Señal e Ing. Telemática, Paseo Belén no 15, 47011 Valladolid, Spain

  • *miguel.herrero@incibe.es
  • juagar@tel.uva.es

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 89, Iss. 1 — January - March 2017

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Reviews of Modern Physics

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×