Semi-device-independent random number generation with flexible assumptions - Pivoluska, Matej; Plesch, Martin; Farkas, Máté; Ruzickova, Natalia; Flegel, Clara; Valencia, Natalia Herrera; Mccutcheon, Will; Malik, Mehul; Aguilar, Edgar A. (npj Quantum Information, 2021)
Our ability to trust that a random number is truly random is essential for fields as diverse as cryptography and fundamental tests of quantum mechanics. Existing solutions both come with drawbacks—device-independent quantum random number generators (QRNGs) are highly impractical and standard semi-device-independent QRNGs are limited to a specific physical implementation and level of trust. Here we propose a framework for semi-device-independent randomness certification, using a source of trusted vacuum in the form of a signal shutter. It employs a flexible set of assumptions and levels of trust, allowing it to be applied in a wide range of physical scenarios involving both quantum and classical entropy sources. We experimentally demonstrate our protocol with a photonic setup and generate secure random bits under three different assumptions with varying degrees of security and resulting data rates.
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Keywords: article