Practical source-independent quantum random number generation with detector efficiency mismatch
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Practical source-independent quantum random number generation with detector efficiency mismatch Di Ma1 · Yangpeng Wang1 · Kejin Wei1 Received: 11 December 2019 / Accepted: 9 September 2020 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Quantum random number generators (QRNGs) are widely used in information processing tasks. The quality of the random numbers obtained from QRNGs relies on the accurate characterization of the physical implementations. In practice, realistic devices are difficult to characterize, resulting in incorrect entropy estimations of the output random numbers. Recently, a novel quantum random number generation (QRNG) scheme, referred to as source-independent QRNG (SIQRNG), has attracted a lot of interest. The scheme can provide certified randomness by using untrusted and uncharacterized sources, under the assumption that the measurement devices are trusted. However, realistic devices inevitably feature imperfections. Here, we show that the output randomness of SIQRNG is compromised in the presence of detection imperfection , by constructing an attack based on a time-domain detection efficiency mismatch between two practical detectors. More importantly, we provide an unconditional security proof of SIQRNG that takes detection efficiency mismatch into account. In addition, we provide a parameter optimization method to effectively improve the final random number generation rate. Our work demonstrates that SIQRNG is highly practical and that randomness can be extracted even in the presence of a detection efficiency mismatch.
1 Introduction Random numbers are widely employed in various fields, including Monte Carlo simulations and cryptography. Classical random number generators (RNGs) are based on pseudorandom number algorithms, through which a random seed is deterministically expanded. Although the resulting sequences have a perfect balance between 0s and 1s, the strong long-range correlations exhibited cause loopholes in fundamental physics tests and lead to serious security risks in cryptographic applications, particularly in
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Kejin Wei [email protected] Guangxi Key Laboratory for Relativistic Astrophysics, School of Physics Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China 0123456789().: V,-vol
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quantum cryptography tasks such as quantum key distribution [1,2] and quantum secure direct communication [3,4]. To resolve this problem, quantum random number generators (QRNGs) [5,6] have been proposed; these produce genuine randomness due to the indeterministic nature of quantum mechanics. Thus far, various QRNG schemes (including single-photon detection [7,8], vacuum-state fluctuations [9–14], photon-arrival times [15], and laser phase fluctuations [16–21]) have been demonstrated. More significantly, commercial QRNG products have been made available for sale [22]. While such QRNGs exhibit a high performance on low-cost devices, they output genuine random numbers only when the physical implementations are cons
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