Realization of a source-device-independent quantum random number generator secured by nonlocal dispersion cancellation

Abstract

Quantum random number generators can provide genuine randomness by exploiting the intrinsic probabilistic nature of quantum mechanics, which play important roles in many applications. However, the true randomness acquisition could be subject to attacks from untrusted devices involved or their deviations from the theoretical modelling. Here we propose and experimentally demonstrate a source-device-independent quantum random number generator, which enables one to access true random bits with an untrusted source device. The random bits are generated by measuring the arrival time of either photon of the time-energy entangled photon pairs produced from spontaneous parametric down conversion, where the entanglement is testified through the observation of nonlocal dispersion cancellation. In experiment we extract a generation rate of 1.125 Mbps by modified entropic uncertainty relation. Our approach provides a promising candidate for quantum random number generators with no characterization.