A device or system that generates random numbers by exploiting the inherent randomness of quantum mechanical processes. There are several types of QRNGs, including:
- Hardware-based QRNGs: These devices measure quantum phenomena directly, such as photon arrival times, electron tunneling, or shot noise. While they can produce high-quality randomness, they may be susceptible to environmental influences and hardware imperfections.
- Optical QRNGs: These systems use quantum optics principles, often involving beam splitters or phase randomization, to generate random numbers. They can achieve high bit rates but may require careful calibration and maintenance.
- Chip-based QRNGs: Integrated circuits that incorporate quantum phenomena for random number generation. While compact, they may face challenges in proving the quantum nature of their output.
- Software-deployed QRNGs: These systems, like Quantum Origin, use quantum processes to generate a seed of provable randomness, which is then used to produce high-quality random numbers through classical algorithms. This approach combines the strengths of quantum randomness with the practicality of software deployment, offering scalability and ease of integration.