We demonstrate a fiber-optic source of random numbers in which random-number generation (RNG) is implemented via an inherently quantum process—detection of correlated photon pairs produced by spontaneous four-wave mixing (FWM) inside an optical fiber. The detection times of individual photon pairs, generated in our RNG scheme via phase-matched FWM in a highly nonlinear photonic-crystal fiber with a suitable dispersion profile, are converted into megabit-size binary sequences, serving as strings of random numbers. The randomness of these bit strings is verified by the National Institute of Standards and Technology Statistical Test Suite. We identify FWM regimes in which mode-locked short-pulse laser sources can provide a high peak power needed to drive photon-pair generation in optical fibers without an excessive loss of randomness due to unwanted patterns in the RNG photon-pair output.

中文翻译：

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来自光纤光子对源的量子随机数

我们展示了一种随机数光纤源，其中随机数生成 (RNG) 是通过固有的量子过程实现的——检测光纤内自发四波混合 (FWM) 产生的相关光子对。在我们的 RNG 方案中通过相位匹配 FWM 在具有合适色散分布的高度非线性光子晶体光纤中生成的单个光子对的检测时间被转换为兆位大小的二进制序列，作为随机数串。这些位串的随机性由美国国家标准与技术研究所统计测试套件验证。