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Certified randomness in quantum physics

Nature volume 540, pages 213–219 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

The concept of randomness plays an important part in many disciplines. On the one hand, the question of whether random processes exist is fundamental for our understanding of nature. On the other, randomness is a resource for cryptography, algorithms and simulations. Standard methods for generating randomness rely on assumptions about the devices that are often not valid in practice. However, quantum technologies enable new methods for generating certified randomness, based on the violation of Bell inequalities. These methods are referred to as device-independent because they do not rely on any modelling of the devices. Here we review efforts to design device-independent randomness generators and the associated challenges.

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Figure 1: Schemes for randomness generation.
Figure 2: Structure of DIQRNG protocols.
Figure 3: Randomness as a function of the CHSH Bell inequality violation observed by the user.

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Acknowledgements

We thank S. Pironio, V. Scarani, F. G. S. L. Brandao, R. Arnon Friedman and A. Wallraff for discussions. A.A. acknowledges support from the ERC CoG QITBOX, the AXA Chair in Quantum Information Science, Spanish MINECO (FOQUS FIS2013-46768-P and SEV-2015-0522), Fundación Cellex, the Generalitat de Catalunya (SGR 875) and The John Templeton Foundation. L.M. is supported by EPSRC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ICFO-Institut de Ciencies Fotoniques, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Castelldefels, 08860, Barcelona, Spain

    Antonio Acín

  2. ICREA—Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, 08010, Spain

    Antonio Acín

  3. Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College of London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

    Lluis Masanes

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Both authors equally contributed to the work.

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Correspondence to Antonio Acín.

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Acín, A., Masanes, L. Certified randomness in quantum physics. Nature 540, 213–219 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature20119

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