%0 Journal Article
%T A Fast and Compact Quantum Random Number Generator
%A Thomas Jennewein
%A Ulrich Achleitner
%A Gregor Weihs
%A Harald Weinfurter
%A Anton Zeilinger
%J Physics
%D 1999
%I arXiv
%R 10.1063/1.1150518
%X We present the realization of a physical quantum random number generator based on the process of splitting a beam of photons on a beam splitter, a quantum mechanical source of true randomness. By utilizing either a beam splitter or a polarizing beam splitter, single photon detectors and high speed electronics the presented devices are capable of generating a binary random signal with an autocorrelation time of 11.8 ns and a continuous stream of random numbers at a rate of 1 Mbit/s. The randomness of the generated signals and numbers is shown by running a series of tests upon data samples. The devices described in this paper are built into compact housings and are simple to operate.
%U http://arxiv.org/abs/quant-ph/9912118v1