QuRUNNER is an Instituto de Telecomunicações (IT) internal research project that is based on a close collaboration between the Optical Quantum Communications and Technologies Group at IT Aveiro (OQCT-Av) and the Security and Quantum Information Group (SQIG-Lx) at IT Lisbon. This project embraces the investigation of quantum technologies based on the quantum properties of the electromagnetic waves. In this project, we will explore homodyne detection schemes that uses a continuous-variable quantum vacuum state to generate random numbers, with main goal of developing a network server to provide true random numbers for all researchers at IT.
True random number generators are an imperative requisite in diverse applications that range from computational simulations over gambling to classical and quantum cryptography. Especially in cryptography applications, random number generators with poor randomness will directly reduce the security levels of the cryptography system, including those based on quantum key distribution (QKD) where a true and secure random number generator is a prime requisite. Nowadays, common solutions based on pseudo or classical random number generators rely on deterministic processes, which are in principle predictable. In contrast to these classical systems, quantum mechanics guarantees, from a theoretic point of view, that the outcome of the measurement is completely unpredictable which can be exploited for generating true random number. These generators based on the quantum mechanics are typically known by quantum random number generators (QRNGs). In this context, design and implementation of a network server to deploy true random numbers to all research members of IT will be our major goal within the framework of this project.
Acknowledgements
This work is funded by FCT/MCTES through national funds and when applicable co-funded EU funds under the project UIDB/50008/2020-UIDP/50008/2020 (action QuRUNNER)
