Pseudo-random number generation based on digit isolation referenced to entropy buffers

Abstract

Unpredictable pseudo-random number generators (PRNGs) are presented based on dissociated components with only coincidental interaction. The first components involve pointers taken from series of floating point numbers (float streams) arising from arithmetic. The pointers are formed by isolating generalized digits sufficiently far from the most significant digits in the float streams and may be combined into multi-digit pointers. The pointers indicate draw locations from the second component which are entropy decks having one or more cards corresponding to the elements used to assemble random numbers. Like playing cards, decks are cut and riffle-shuffled based on rules using digits appearing in the simulations. The various ordering states of the cards provide entropy to the PRNGs. The dual nature of the PRNGs is novel since they can operate either entirely on pointer variability to fixed decks or on shuffling variability using fixed pointer locations. Each component, pointers and dynamic entropy, is dissociated from the other and independently shown to pass stringent statistical tests with the other held as fixed; a “gold standard” mode involves changing the coincidental interaction between these two strong emulators of randomness by either cutting or shuffling prior to each draw. Gold standard modes may be useful in cryptography and in assessing tests themselves. One PRNG contains [Formula: see text] states in the entropy pool, another generates integers approximately 50% faster than the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) PRNG with similar empirical performance, and a third generates full double-precision floats at speeds comparable to unsigned integer rates of the AES PRNG.