Quantum random bit generator (QRBG)
Principal investigator
Cybernetic security relies on availability of truly random numbers. However, almost exclusively in use are so called pseudo-random numbers. Such numbers, no matter how comoplicated the generation process is, are deterministic and therefore easily calculable by anyone who knows the first generated nunber, so called seed. This poses a great danger to security, because even if seed is not known it is typically a rather small number and can be guessed much easier and faster that the supposedly secure long generated sequence of numbers used for cryptographic protection. Therefore, using our scientific and engineering knowledge, we propose to build a quantum random number generator, based on intrinsic randomness of quantum proces of photonic emission and subsequent detection by the photoelectric effect. Such a generator could be practically built using available technologies, powered from the computer USB port, having size of a tennis ball, and weight less than 300 grams.