Wang Bingkun, Hu Jianyong, Li Xingjian, Liu Jianqiang, Wu Shuxiao, Li Haizhen, Zhang Liwen, Yang Changgang, Qiao Zhixing, Chen Ruiyun, Zhang Guofeng, Qin Chengbing, Xiao Liantuan, Jia Suotang
State Key Laboratory of Quantum Optics Technologies and Devices, Institute of Laser Spectroscopy, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China.
Collaborative Innovation Center of Extreme Optics, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China.
Sci Rep. 2025 May 30;15(1):18996. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-03680-7.
Quantum random number generators (QRNGs) produce true random numbers with significant applications in quantum communication and numerical computation, where high-rate random number generation is critical. Photon detection-based quantum random-number generation methods have been widely studied. However, the generation rate is constrained by the count rate of single-photon detectors. This study proposes an efficient method that enhances random number generation by simultaneously detecting photons in temporal and spatial dimensions. We achieved simultaneous detection of photon arrival time and spatial position by employing a laboratory-developed 5 × 5 single-photon detector array and a high-saturation count rate multichannel time-to-digital converter. The maximum efficiency of the method was 21.1 bits per event and it maintained a consistent efficiency of 17.6 bits per event while achieving a random number generation rate of 2.1 Gbps. The proposed QRNG approach offers a promising pathway for significantly increasing random number generation rates, benefiting applications that require secure and high-speed random number sequences.
量子随机数发生器（QRNG）产生真正的随机数，在量子通信和数值计算中有重要应用，其中高速随机数生成至关重要。基于光子探测的量子随机数生成方法已得到广泛研究。然而，生成速率受单光子探测器计数率的限制。本研究提出一种有效方法，通过在时间和空间维度同时探测光子来提高随机数生成。我们通过使用实验室开发的5×5单光子探测器阵列和高饱和计数率多通道时间数字转换器，实现了光子到达时间和空间位置的同时探测。该方法的最大效率为每个事件21.1比特，在实现2.1 Gbps随机数生成速率的同时，保持每个事件17.6比特的一致效率。所提出的QRNG方法为显著提高随机数生成速率提供了一条有前景的途径，有利于需要安全和高速随机数序列的应用。
