arXiv · 1401.5658
Ultra-fast quantum randomness generation by accelerated phase diffusion in a pulsed laser diode
Abstract
We demonstrate a high bit-rate quantum random number generator by interferometric detection of phase diffusion in a gain-switched DFB laser diode. Gain switching at few-GHz frequencies produces a train of bright pulses with nearly equal amplitudes and random phases. An unbalanced Mach-Zehnder interferometer is used to interfere subsequent pulses and thereby generate strong random-amplitude pulses, which are detected and digitized to produce a high-rate random bit string. Using established models of semiconductor laser field dynamics, we predict a regime of high visibility interference and nearly complete vacuum-fluctuation-induced phase diffusion between pulses. These are confirmed by measurement of pulse power statistics at the output of the interferometer. Using a 5.825 GHz excitation rate and 14-bit digitization, we observe 43 Gbps quantum randomness generation.
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C. Abellan, W. Amaya, M. Jofre, M. Curty, A. Acin, J. Capmany, V. Pruneri, M. W. Mitchell. 2014-01-22. Ultra-fast quantum randomness generation by accelerated phase diffusion in a pulsed laser diode. https://doi.org/10.1364/oe.22.001645
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