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Updated: Aug 13, 2025
09:23
Quantum State Engineering of Light with Continuous-wave Optical Parametric Oscillators
Published on: May 30, 2014
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Provably-secure quantum randomness expansion with uncharacterised homodyne detection.
Chao Wang1, Ignatius William Primaatmaja1,2, Hong Jie Ng1
1Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Nature Communications
|January 19, 2023
Summary
This study introduces a novel quantum random number generator (QRNG) protocol that eliminates calibration needs and is secure against quantum side information. The simplified design is ideal for integrated photonic platforms, enabling practical, self-testing QRNGs.
Area of Science:
- Quantum Information Science
- Quantum Cryptography
- Photonics
Background:
- Quantum random number generators (QRNGs) offer certifiably random numbers but often require precise calibration and can be vulnerable to side-channel attacks.
- Experimental challenges and calibration requirements hinder the widespread adoption and security analysis of current QRNG systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose, design, and experimentally demonstrate a QRNG protocol that removes measurement device calibration requirements.
- To develop a QRNG secure against quantum side information, finite-size effects, and non-independent and identically distributed measurement sides.
- To create a simple, practical QRNG suitable for integrated photonic platforms.
Main Methods:
- A novel QRNG protocol was designed, removing the need for precise calibration of the measurement device.
- The protocol accounts for finite-size effects and relaxes the assumption of independent and identically distributed measurements.
- A fiber-optical experimental system utilizing a home-made homodyne detector was constructed.
Main Results:
- The experimental system achieved an effective efficiency of 91.7% at 1550 nm and operated at a rate of 2.5 MHz.
- A net randomness expansion rate of 4.98 kbits/s was obtained over 10^10 rounds.
- The proposed QRNG protocol demonstrated security against quantum side information and removed calibration dependencies.
Conclusions:
- The developed QRNG protocol offers a simplified implementation using standard optical components, suitable for integrated photonic platforms.
- The results pave the way for practical, self-testing quantum random number generators with provable security.
- This work addresses key experimental challenges, enhancing the feasibility of secure QRNGs.
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