Quantum Random Number Generation: Theory and Practice

This book provides an overview of the state-of-the-art implementations of quantum random number generators (QRNGs), especially discussing their relation to classical statistical randomness models and numerical techniques for computing random numbers. The reader - who ideally has a background in classical statistics, computer science or cryptography, will be introduced step-by-step to the world of quantum bits, while explicit relations between QRNGs and their classical counterparts are established along the way.

Random number generation is a major pillar of cryptography. Using the randomness inherent in quantum phenomena is a rapidly evolving branch of quantum cryptography with invaluable applications for the future. The quality of quantum randomness for cryptographic purposes is empirically demonstrated by statistical evaluations of how well QRNGs perform compared to classical techniques for true and pseudorandom number generation. The book closes with an overview of technical implementations of QRNGs. A concluding discussion of major achievements and remaining obstacles in the field rounds out the coverage for the present, and opens the door for future research directions.