angelm
Masuk: 2006-01-20
Kirim: 110
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randomness revealed by simplicity
Processes described by quantum physics
randomness revealed by simplicity
Contrary to classical physics, quantum physics is fundamentally random. It is the only theory within the fabric of modern physics that integrates randomness. This fact was very disturbing to physicists like Einstein who invented quantum physics. However, its intrinsic randomness has been confirmed over and over again by theoretical and experimental research conducted since the first decades of the XXth century.
When designing a random number generator, it is thus a natural choice to take advantage of this intrinsic randomness and to resort to the use of a quantum process as source of randomness. Formally, quantum random number generators are the only true random number generators. Although this observation may be important in certain cases, quantum random number generators have other advantages. This intrinsic randomness of quantum physics allows selecting a very simple process as source of randomness. This implies that such a generator is easy to model and its functioning can be monitored in order to confirm that it operating properly and is actually producing random numbers. Contrary to the case where classical physics is used as the source of randomness and where determinism is hidden behind complexity, one can say that with quantum physics randomness is revealed by simplicity.
Until recently the only quantum random number generator that existed were based on the observation of the radioactive decay of some element. Although they produce numbers of excellent quality, these generators are quite bulky and the use of radioactive materials may cause health concerns. The fact that a simple and low cost quantum random number generators did not exist prevented quantum physics to become the dominant source of randomness.
Optical quantum random number generator
Optics is the science of light. From a quantum physics point of view, light consists of elementary "particles" called photons. Photons exhibit in certain situations a random behavior. One such situation, which is very well suited to the generation of binary random numbers, is the transmission upon a semi-transparent mirror. The fact that a photon incident on such a component be reflected or transmitted is intrinsically random and cannot be influenced by any external parameters. Kirim pada 2006-01-20 23:19:53 |
