Description

TRUE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATION (RNG) EXPLOITING QUANTUM PHYSICS

Quantis is a family of hardware random number generators (RNG) which exploit elementary quantum optical processes as a source of true randomness. (cf. Wikipedia: physical phenomena with quantum random properties). Photons (light particles) are sent, one by one, onto a semi-transparent mirror and detected. The exclusive events (reflection or transmission) are associated to “0” or “1” bit values. Such quantum processes provide instantaneous and inexhaustible entropy.

The operation of Quantis RNG is continuously monitored to ensure immediate detection of a failure and, if needed, disabling of the random bit stream.

WHAT MAKES QUANTIS A UNIQUE TRNG?

Quantis uses Quantum Physics to create truly random numbers

Existing randomness sources can be grouped in two classes: software solutions, which can only generate pseudo-random bit streams, and physical (hardware) sources. Software solutions are not capable of providing true randomness as they are based on deterministic computer programs. Instead, they rely on external entropy sources to build up randomness, but these are slow and inefficient, and the quality of the randomness may be difficult to verify.  In the latter – hardware RNGs – most random number generators still rely on classical physics to produce what looks like a random stream of bits. However, in reality, determinism is hidden behind complexity for such RNGs without real quantum random properties.

Contrary to classical physics, quantum physics is fundamentally random. It is the only theory within the fabric of modern physics that integrates randomness. Quantis uses these quantum-random properties to generate true random numbers with entropy (read the following white paper for more information).

Quantis provides instantaneous entropy

Quantis provides entropy (randomness) instantaneously from the first photon, making it ideal as a source of randomness for encryption keys, even at boot-up to establish the first secure IT connection, or for the very first lottery draw.  This is in contrast to deterministic random bit generators which often need to accumulate entropy over a long period of time from external sources before being able to generate the first secure key.

Quantis is reliable and trustworthy

Random number generation needs to be unfailingly reliable. Quantis meets this requirement in a number of ways – firstly Quantis continuously performs a live verification of its functioning to ensure that there is constantly full entropy.

Secondly, Quantis has been certified by leading commercial and government entities, from the Swiss Federal Office of Metrology (METAS certificate), to the Compliance Testing Laboratory, UK (CTL certificate) to local and national gaming authorities worldwide. Quantis is also available as a Quantis AIS31 validated RNG.

Finally, Quantis is designed and manufactured in Switzerland, a country globally known for its independence and sense of quality and precision.

Quantis generates random numbers at a very high bit rate

Quantis produces random numbers at a bit rate up to 16Mbps. This is the highest truly random bit rate available to date for any certified PCIe or USB device.

RANDOM NUMBERS FROM QUANTUM ORIGIN

Although random numbers are required in many applications – from cryptosystems to gaming – their generation is often overlooked. Being deterministic, computers are not capable of producing random numbers. A hardware source of randomness (entropy) is necessary. As quantum physics is intrinsically random, it is natural to exploit a quantum process for such a source. Quantum random number generators (QRNG) have the advantage over conventional randomness sources of being invulnerable to environmental perturbations and of allowing live status verification (read the following white paper for more information).