Quantum Random Number Generator Service Begins

BERLIN, Dec. 2, 2010 — PicoQuant GmbH and Nano-Optics groups at the Department of Physics of Humboldt University Berlin announced they have started a Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) that is based on the quantum randomness of photon arrival times.

The generator provides a bit rate with up to 150 Mbits/s over USB. Interested persons are invited to test and use the generated randomness on the university’s website provided below. The service is free of charge, but requires registration.

PicoQuant GmbH and the Nano-Optics groups at the Department of Physics of Humboldt University Berlin have developed The Quantum Random Number Generator, which is based on the quantum randomness of photon arrival times. (Photo: PicoQuant)

Users can download single chunks of random bits via the Web. Continuous streams of random data can be fed directly into custom application software by means of DLLs for access to the server. None of the served data is delivered more than once, neither to a single user nor across independent users.

The QRNG offers substantially higher bit rates than previous solutions available to the public. This was made possible by exploiting most recent photon timing instrumentation and state-of-the-art data processing in hardware. The post-processing algorithm applied to the raw data is based on sold predictions from information theory which guarantee conservation of randomness, allowing for the use of the delivered random numbers in unconditionally secure encryption schemes.

PicoQuant is a research and development company in the field of optoelectronics. Its product line includes pulsed diode lasers and LEDs, photon counting instrumentation, fluorescence lifetime spectrometers and time-resolved confocal microscopes.

To access the generator, visit: http://qrng.physik.hu-berlin.de

For more information, visit: www.picoquant.com

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Published: December 2010

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