Chip-scale massive-parallel ultrafast physical random bit generator

我们的数字网络社会的性能和可靠性依赖于产生大量随机性的能力。随机数在保密通信、蒙特卡罗模拟和随机建模中有着广泛的应用。提出了一种全新的大规模并行超快随机数生成机制。使用该方案可以实现的随机数生成率将比迄今为止报告的最快的物理随机位生成器高出几个数量级。该设备结构紧凑、坚固耐用、节能。这种并行的超高速随机数发生器有望在信息安全、密码学、认证、数据完整性和蒙特卡罗模拟等方面产生广泛的影响。日益增长的提高数字信息安全性的需求已经将随机数产生领域从单纯依赖伪随机算法转移到利用物理熵源。超快物理随机数发生器是通信和计算系统中实现极限性能和可靠性的关键器件。并行随机比特生成方案通过同时生成多个随机比特流，极大地提高了生成速度和可扩展性。本项目的目的是开发一个大规模并行的超快随机比特发生器。它是基于一种新的高多模半导体激光器的空间解复用方案。许多激光模式的超快拍频在不同的空间位置产生了不同的发射强度的时间起伏。这些随机波动使得能够在100到1000个空间通道中并行产生随机比特。每个通道可以产生独立的随机比特流，速率高达1TB/S。累积速率将接近1Pb/S，比迄今报道的最快的物理随机比特生成器高出三个数量级。量子力学噪声将保证生成比特的真正随机性。初步研究提供了概念验证演示。将进行系统的实验和数值研究，以(I)了解随机性的起源并量化熵生成率，(Ii)找到并行通道数量和随机数生成速度的基本限制，(Iii)将光电探测器与激光集成在芯片上，以及(Iv)实现与计算机的直接接口的随机比特流的实时生成。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The performance and reliability of our digital networked society rely on the ability to generate large quantities of randomness. Random numbers are widely used in secure communications, Monte Carlo simulations and stochastic modeling. A completely new mechanism for massive-parallel ultrafast random number generation is proposed. The random number generation rate that can be achieved with this scheme will be several orders of magnitude higher than the fastest physical random bit generators reported to date. The device is compact, robust and energy efficient. Such a parallel ultrafast random number generator is expected to have a broad impact on information security, cryptography, authentication, data integrity, and Monte Carlo simulations, etc..The ever-increasing demand to improve the security of digital information has shifted the field of random number generation from relying solely on pseudo-random algorithms to employing physical entropy sources. Ultrafast physical random number generators are key devices for achieving ultimate performance and reliability in communication and computation systems. Parallel random bit generation schemes can greatly improve the generation rate and scalability by producing many random bit streams simultaneously. The aim of this project is to develop a massive-parallel ultrafast random bit generator. It is based on a novel scheme of spatial demultiplexing of a highly multimode semiconductor laser. Ultrafast beating of numerous lasing modes produces distinct temporal fluctuations of emission intensities at different spatial locations. These random fluctuations enable parallel random bit generation in 100 to 1000 spatial channels. Each channel can produce independent random bit stream at a rate up to 1 Tb/s. The cumulative rate will approach 1 Pb/s, which is three orders of magnitude higher than the fastest physical random bit generators reported to date. The quantum mechanical noise will guarantee the true randomness of the generated bits. The preliminary studies have provided the proof-of-concept demonstration. Systematic experimental and numerical studies will be conducted to (i) understand the origin of randomness and quantify the entropy generation rate, (ii) find the fundamental limits for the number of parallel channels and the speed of random number generation, (iii) integrate photodetectors with the laser on a chip, and (iv) achieve real-time generation of random bit streams with direct interface to a computer.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.