A device-independent protocol for more efficient random number generation

Phys.org March 9, 2021 With the growing availability of experimental loophole-free Bell tests it has become possible to implement a new class of device-independent random number generators whose output can be certified to be uniformly random without requiring a detailed model of the quantum devices used. However, all these experiments require many input bits to certify a small number of output bits, and it is an outstanding challenge to develop a system that generates more randomness than is consumes. An international team of researchers (USA -University of Colorado, NIST, University of Maryland, Spain, Japan) developed a device-independent spot-checking protocol that […]

Growing crystals to generate random numbers

Phys.org  February 19, 2020 The process of crystallization is random due to many factors that come into play as chemicals in a liquid solution evolve from a disordered state to one that is very organized. Researchers in the UK created a crystallization array and attached a reagent dispenser put different chemicals into the cups. A camera took a picture of each of the cups as crystal formation began. Each of the pictures was converted to a zero or a one based on nothing but the geography of the crystal. The zeros and ones were then strung together to form a […]