%0 Journal Article %1 Chen_2019 %A Chen, Xing %A Greiner, Johannes N. %A Wrachtrup, Jörg %A Gerhardt, Ilja %D 2019 %I Springer Science and Business Media LLC %J Scientific Reports %K pi3 wrachtrup %N 1 %R 10.1038/s41598-019-54594-0 %T Single Photon Randomness based on a Defect Center in Diamond %U https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fs41598-019-54594-0 %V 9 %X The prototype of a quantum random number generator is a single photon which impinges onto a beam splitter and is then detected by single photon detectors at one of the two output paths. Prior to detection, the photon is in a quantum mechanical superposition state of the two possible outcomes with –ideally– equal amplitudes until its position is determined by measurement. When the two output modes are observed by a single photon detector, the generated clicks can be interpreted as ones and zeros – and a raw random bit stream is obtained. Here we implement such a random bit generator based on single photons from a defect center in diamond. We investigate the single photon emission of the defect center by an anti-bunching measurement. This certifies the “quantumness” of the supplied photonic input state, while the random “decision” is still based on the vacuum fluctuations at the open port of the beam-splitter. Technical limitations, such as intensity fluctuations, mechanical drift, and bias are discussed. A number of ways to suppress such unwanted effects, and an a priori entropy estimation are presented. The single photon nature allows for a characterization of the non-classicality of the source, and allows to determine a background fraction. Due to the NV-center’s superior stability and optical properties, we can operate the generator under ambient conditions around the clock. We present a true 24/7 operation of the implemented random bit generator.

@article{Chen_2019, abstract = {The prototype of a quantum random number generator is a single photon which impinges onto a beam splitter and is then detected by single photon detectors at one of the two output paths. Prior to detection, the photon is in a quantum mechanical superposition state of the two possible outcomes with –ideally– equal amplitudes until its position is determined by measurement. When the two output modes are observed by a single photon detector, the generated clicks can be interpreted as ones and zeros – and a raw random bit stream is obtained. Here we implement such a random bit generator based on single photons from a defect center in diamond. We investigate the single photon emission of the defect center by an anti-bunching measurement. This certifies the “quantumness” of the supplied photonic input state, while the random “decision” is still based on the vacuum fluctuations at the open port of the beam-splitter. Technical limitations, such as intensity fluctuations, mechanical drift, and bias are discussed. A number of ways to suppress such unwanted effects, and an a priori entropy estimation are presented. The single photon nature allows for a characterization of the non-classicality of the source, and allows to determine a background fraction. Due to the NV-center’s superior stability and optical properties, we can operate the generator under ambient conditions around the clock. We present a true 24/7 operation of the implemented random bit generator.}, added-at = {2020-04-14T09:12:27.000+0200}, author = {Chen, Xing and Greiner, Johannes N. and Wrachtrup, Jörg and Gerhardt, Ilja}, biburl = {https://puma.ub.uni-stuttgart.de/bibtex/2a657e1a0268c50b62fa976aa1e28672e/shirschmann}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-019-54594-0}, interhash = {175b118ec67612700ece7ac7b7a7e21e}, intrahash = {a657e1a0268c50b62fa976aa1e28672e}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, keywords = {pi3 wrachtrup}, month = dec, number = 1, publisher = {Springer Science and Business Media {LLC}}, timestamp = {2020-04-14T07:12:27.000+0200}, title = {Single Photon Randomness based on a Defect Center in Diamond}, url = {https://doi.org/10.1038%2Fs41598-019-54594-0}, volume = 9, year = 2019 }