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。 提出了一种全新的并行超快随机数产生机制。用这种方案可以实现的随机数生成速率将比迄今为止报道的最快的物理随机比特生成器高几个数量级。该设备紧凑、坚固且节能。 这种并行超快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。对提高数字信息安全性的不断增长的需求已经将随机数生成领域从仅仅依赖伪随机算法转移到采用物理熵源。超快物理随机数发生器是通信和计算系统中实现最终性能和可靠性的关键设备。并行随机比特产生方案可以同时产生多个随机比特流，从而大大提高了随机比特的产生速率和可扩展性。本计画的目的是研制一个双平行超快速随机位元产生器。它是基于一种新的高度多模半导体激光器的空间解复用方案。众多激光模式的超快拍频在不同的空间位置产生不同的发射强度的时间波动。这些随机波动使得能够在100至1000个空间信道中并行地产生随机比特。每个通道可以产生独立的随机比特流，速率高达1 Tb/s。累积速率将接近1 Pb/s，这比迄今报道的最快物理随机比特发生器高出三个数量级。量子力学噪声将保证所生成的比特的真正随机性。初步的研究提供了概念验证的演示。 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产生率，（ii）找到并行通道数量和随机数产生速度的基本限制，（iii）将光电探测器与激光器集成在芯片上，及（iv）达到真实的-直接与计算机接口的随机位流的实时生成。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的学术价值和更广泛的影响评审标准。

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.