Abstract
Generating true random bits of high quality at high data rates is usually viewed as a challenging task. To do so, physical sources of entropy with wide bandwidth are required which are able to provide truly random bits and not pseudorandom bits, as it is the case with deterministic algorithms and chaotic systems. In this work we demonstrate a reliable high-speed true random bit generator (TRBG) device based on the unpredictable electrical current time series of atmospheric pressure air microplasma (APAMP). After binarization of the sampled current time series, no further post-processing was needed in order for the bitstreams to pass all 15 tests of the NIST SP 800-22 statistical test suite. Several configurations of the system have been successfully tested at different sampling rates up to 100 MS/s, and with different inter-electrode distances giving visible/non-visible optical emissions. The cost-effectiveness, simplicity and ease of implementation of the proposed APAMP system compared to others makes it a very promising solution for portable TRBGs.
Highlights
Generating true random bits of high quality at high data rates is usually viewed as a challenging task
In high-pressure and atmospheric pressure systems in particular, charged and uncharged species are in non-local equilibrium with the electric field due to the large and non-monotonous profiles of the latter, and due to the small dimensions of the s ystem[2]. This non-equilibrium character of microplasma and erratic movement of its elemental species which manifests itself as high-frequency electrical current fluctuations has been shown to be useful for another type of application: high-rate random bit generation (RBG)[19]
To overcome some of these limitation, in this paper we rely on the electrical current fluctuations in atmospheric pressure air microplasma (APAMP) as a source of entropy for RBG
Summary
Generating true random bits of high quality at high data rates is usually viewed as a challenging task. In high-pressure and atmospheric pressure systems in particular, charged and uncharged species are in non-local equilibrium with the electric field due to the large and non-monotonous profiles of the latter, and due to the small dimensions of the s ystem[2] This non-equilibrium character of microplasma and erratic movement of its elemental species which manifests itself as high-frequency electrical current fluctuations (coupled with others, such as acoustic and optical fluctuations18) has been shown to be useful for another type of application: high-rate random bit generation (RBG)[19]. From the current time signals obtained at large voltages unambiguously pass (after simple post-processing) all 15 tests of NIST SP 800-22 Statistical Test S uite[19,24] Despite these promising results, the fact that liquids and evaporated corrosive gases were involved in the microplasma process, posed limitations on their portability, packaging and ease-of-maintenance. A comparison with other existing RBG systems and processes is provided and discussed in the “Discussion” section
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