Randomness scaling in photonic quantum random number generators (Market Study)

随机数生成是当今互联世界中的一个关键安全元素，可确保我们的安全和可信通信。虽然今天的系统，如伪随机数发生器（PRNG）依赖于确定性-因此可预测-算法，但量子RNG利用基本的量子光学过程，这些过程从根本上是概率性的，以产生真正的随机性。因此，当我们进入量子十年时，量子随机数生成在安全性，可靠性和易用性方面已经成为参考。 由于QRNG的生产方式多种多样，光子学实现似乎是最有前途的策略，因为它满足了重要的要求，如与通信协议的简单接口，高比特率和更高的安全性。 目前的提案涉及与光子QRNG新方案相关的市场研究，其中随机比特生成的效率可以通过级联越来越多的易于实现的基于光纤的分束器和延迟线来扩大，同时最小限度地增加设备复杂性。所实现的技术是高度通用的，因为它独立于源和检测机制工作，同时在时间复用方案中使用简单的现成电信组件来增加检测到的光子可以占据的状态的数量（从而提高所产生的比特的随机性）。此外，除了与多个集成/自由空间/光纤平台兼容外，它还可以对商用QRNG的两个关键性能参数（速度和安全性）进行可调控制。 通过提高光子QRNG的性能，以低成本生产，我们的新方案打开了光子QRNG商业发展的大门。因此，我们坚信，对这项创新技术进行市场研究是非常及时的，将有助于加强加拿大高科技产业在国际舞台上的影响。

Random number generation is a critical security element in today's connected world to ensure our safety and trusted communications. While today's systems like Pseudo Random Number Generators (PRNGs) rely on deterministic - thus predictable - algorithms, Quantum RNGs exploit elementary quantum optic processes that are fundamentally probabilistic to produce true randomness. Thus, as we enter the quantum decade, Quantum Random Number Generation has established itself as the reference in terms of security, reliability, and ease-of-use.  With a variety of ways in which QRNGs can be produced, the photonics implementation appears to be the most promising strategy as it satisfies important requirements like an easy interfacing with communications protocols, high bit rates and increased security. The current proposal deals with a market study related to a new scheme of photonic QRNGs in which the efficiency of random bit generation can be scaled-up by cascading an increasing number of easy-to-realize fiber-based beam splitters and delay lines, while minimally increasing the device complexity. The implemented technique is highly versatile as it works independently from the source and the detection mechanism, while using, at the same time, simple, off-the-shelf telecommunications components in a time multiplexing scheme to increase the number of states a detected photon can occupy (thereby improving the randomness of the produced bits). Moreover, it provides a tunable control over both key performance parameters of commercial QRNGs (speed and security) in addition to being compatible with multiple integration/ free space/ fiber platforms. By improving photonic QRNGs performances, at a low-cost production, our new scheme opens the door to photonic QRNG commercial developments. Hence, we strongly believe that a market study for this innovative technology is extremely timely and will contribute to reinforce the impact of the high-technology Canadian industry on the international scene.