Improved Real-Time Post-Processing for Quantum Random Number Generators

Abstract

Randomness extraction is a key problem in cryptography and theoretical computer science. With the recent rapid development of quantum cryptography, quantum-proof randomness extraction has also been widely studied, addressing the security issues in the presence of a quantum adversary. In contrast with conventional quantum-proof randomness extractors characterizing the input raw data as min-entropy sources, it is found that the input raw data generated by a large class of trusted-device quantum random number generators can be characterized as the so-called reverse block source. This fact enables us to design improved extractors. Two novel quantum-proof randomness extractors for reverse block sources that realize real-time block-wise extraction are proposed specifically. In comparison with the general min-entropy randomness extractors, the designs achieve a significantly higher extraction speed and a longer output data length with the same seed length. In addition, they enjoy the property of online algorithms, which process the raw data on the fly without waiting for the entire input raw data to be available. These features make the design an adequate choice for the real-time post-processing of practical quantum random number generators. Applying the extractors to the raw data generated by a widely used quantum random number generator, a simulated extraction speed as high as 300 Gbps is achieved.