Abstract
We propose a scheme of all-optical random number generator (RNG), which consists of an ultra-wide bandwidth (UWB) chaotic laser, an all-optical sampler and an all-optical comparator. Free from the electric-device bandwidth, it can generate 10Gbit/s random numbers in our simulation. The high-speed bit sequences can pass standard statistical tests for randomness after all-optical exclusive-or (XOR) operation.
Highlights
Random numbers have a wide range of applications. They are used as ranging signal in radar system, controlling signal in remote control, encryption codes or keys in digital communication, address codes and spread spectrum codes in code division multiple access (CDMA)
We propose and demonstrate an all-optical random number generator (RNG) based on chaotic laser, which does all signal processing only in the optical domain, with no photoelectric conversion
The schematic diagram of the all-optical RNG is shown in Fig. 1, which includes three parts: an ultra-wide bandwidth (UWB) chaotic laser as random number source, a Sagnac interferometer as all-optical sampler and a λ/4-shifted DFB lasers (λ/4 DFB) as all-optical comparator
Summary
Random numbers have a wide range of applications. For example, they are used as ranging signal in radar system, controlling signal in remote control, encryption codes or keys in digital communication, address codes and spread spectrum codes in code division multiple access (CDMA). There are two approaches to generate random numbers: software-based and physics-based The former can produce high-speed pseudorandom numbers with rates of several Gbit/s utilizing deterministic algorithms, but it is vulnerable when such pseudorandom numbers are used as the keys to encryption systems. In 2008, Uchida et al [9] for the fist time realized experimentally a 1.7 Gbit/s random number generator (RNG) by using wide bandwidth chaotic lasers In their experiment, each of the chaotic lights was firstly converted into an electrical signal by a photodetector, and to a binary signal using a 1-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC). We propose and demonstrate an all-optical RNG based on chaotic laser, which does all signal processing only in the optical domain, with no photoelectric conversion It can provide reliable high-speed random numbers for the cipher, one-time pad. The all-optical random numbers can be compatible with the optical signal transmitted in optical communication networks directly, with no need of any external modulators
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