Random numbers can be classified as either pseudo- or physical-random in character. Pseudo-random numbers' periodicity renders them inappropriate for use in cryptographic applications, but naturally-generated physical-random numbers have no calculable periodicity, thereby making them ideally-suited to the task. The laser diode naturally produces a wideband "noise" signal that is believed to have tremendous capacity and great promise, for the rapid generation of physical-random numbers for use in cryptographic applications. We measured a laser diode's output, at a fast photo detector and generated physical-random numbers from frequency noises. We then identified and evaluated the binary-number-line's statistical properties. The result shows that physical-random number generation, at speeds as high as 40Gbps, is obtainable, using the laser diode's frequency noise characteristic.

Date Published: 21 February 2011
PDF: 8 pages
Proc. SPIE 7933, Physics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices XIX, 79332F (21 February 2011); doi: 10.1117/12.875830

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 7933:
Physics and Simulation of Optoelectronic Devices XIX
Bernd Witzigmann; Fritz Henneberger; Yasuhiko Arakawa; Alexandre Freundlich, Editor(s)