Assurance for quantum random number generators

量子随机数发生器的保证

• 批准号: 49229
• 金额: $ 348.62万
• 依托单位: NPL MANAGEMENT LIMITED
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: CR&D Bilateral
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2020 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=49229
• 关键词: Assurance; quantum; random; number; generators

Data is one of the world's most valuable commodities -- affecting every person, every company, every government, everywhere. Most of the world's cybersecurity infrastructure is based on the exchange and use of digital cryptographic keys. Random number generators (RNGs) are essential components of this existing infrastructure, and newer technologies such as quantum key distribution. Quantum random number generators (QRNGs) are devices that utilise the inherent randomness in natural physical processes to create random numbers, assured unique to each device if the process is truly quantum, and are one of the first practical implementations of quantum technologies. A key differentiator of quantum RNGs over other conventional pseudo RNGs, crucial for all security applications, is that identically manufactured and prepared pseudo RNGs are certain to produce the same random sequences, while QRNGs are not.A method for providing authoritative assessment of the unique randomness produced by QRNGs does not currently exist. This project will address that need, thereby overcoming this important technological barrier to their commercial and industrial exploitation, and maximising UK return from quantum technology research in this field. Current tests for random number generators (RNGs), based on numerical analysis of their outputs, give information about the statistical properties of the output randomness but cannot assure that the output is unknown to others. Stronger assessment is possible for QRNGs, since in addition to numerical analysis to assure randomness, the physical process used to create the output can be modelled and physically tested. Assessing the "quantumness" of the process also assesses the privacy of the output.This project will take QRNGs that are either already on the market or near-market prototypes and implement this assessment approach. It will thereby provide the expertise and capability for creating a UK assessment process for QRNGs.

数据是世界上最有价值的商品之一——影响着世界各地的每个人、每个公司、每个政府。世界上大多数网络安全基础设施都基于数字加密密钥的交换和使用。随机数生成器 (RNG) 是现有基础设施以及量子密钥分发等新技术的重要组成部分。量子随机数生成器 (QRNG) 是利用自然物理过程中固有的随机性来创建随机数的设备，如果该过程是真正的量子过程，则确保每个设备的随机数都是唯一的，并且是量子技术的首批实际实现之一。量子 RNG 与其他传统伪 RNG 的一个关键区别（对于所有安全应用至关重要）是，相同制造和准备的伪 RNG 一定会产生相同的随机序列，而 QRNG 则不然。一种对独特随机性提供权威评估的方法目前不存在由 QRNG 生成的。该项目将满足这一需求，从而克服商业和工业开发的这一重要技术障碍，并最大限度地提高英国在该领域量子技术研究的回报。当前的随机数生成器 (RNG) 测试基于其输出的数值分析，提供有关输出随机性统计属性的信息，但不能确保输出对其他人来说是未知的。 QRNG 可以进行更强有力的评估，因为除了确保随机性的数值分析之外，还可以对用于创建输出的物理过程进行建模和物理测试。评估过程的“量子性”也会评估输出的隐私性。该项目将采用已经上市或接近上市原型的 QRNG 并实施这种评估方法。因此，它将提供专业知识和能力，为 QRNG 创建英国评估流程。