


2018-01-23
NOSLEN SUAREZ
NOSLEN SUAREZ

2018-02-22
VALERIA RODRÍGUEZ-FAJARDO
VALERIA RODRÍGUEZ-FAJARDO

2018-02-26
BENJAMIN WOLTER
BENJAMIN WOLTER

2018-03-19
JOANNA ZIELINSKA
JOANNA ZIELINSKA

2018-03-23
QUAN LIU
QUAN LIU

2018-03-28
LARA LAPARRA
LARA LAPARRA

2018-04-03
GUILLAUME CORDIER
GUILLAUME CORDIER

2018-05-22
KEVIN SCHÄDLER
KEVIN SCHÄDLER

2018-06-14
MIRIAM MARCHENA
MIRIAM MARCHENA

2018-06-19
CARLOS ABELLAN
CARLOS ABELLAN

2018-07-02
LUKAS NEUMEIER
LUKAS NEUMEIER

2018-07-24
SHAHRZAD PARSA
SHAHRZAD PARSA

2018-07-25
PAU FARRERA
PAU FARRERA

2018-07-31
BARBARA BUADES
BARBARA BUADES

2018-09-06
SIMON COOP
SIMON COOP

2018-09-13
NICOLAS MARING
NICOLAS MARING

2018-09-19
IVAN SUPIC
IVAN SUPIC

2018-10-02
ANIELLO LAMPO
ANIELLO LAMPO

2018-10-10
CÉSAR CABRERA
CÉSAR CABRERA

2018-10-11
FLORIAN CURCHOD
FLORIAN CURCHOD

2018-10-18
JOSEP CANALS
JOSEP CANALS

2018-10-19
ROLAND TERBORG
ROLAND TERBORG

2018-10-22
KAVITHA KALAVOOR
KAVITHA KALAVOOR

2018-10-24
MIGUEL MIRELES
MIGUEL MIRELES

2018-10-26
KYRA BORGMAN
KYRA BORGMAN

2018-10-30
JOSE M. GARCIA-GUIRADO
JOSE M. GARCIA-GUIRADO

2018-11-12
JIL SCHWENDER
JIL SCHWENDER

2018-12-10
JOSÉ RAMÓN MARTÍNEZ
JOSÉ RAMÓN MARTÍNEZ

2018-12-12
LIJUN MENG
LIJUN MENG

2018-12-17
NICOLÁS MORELL
NICOLÁS MORELL

2018-12-18
JUNXIONG WEI
JUNXIONG WEI
Quantum Random Number Generators for Industrial Applications


Carlos Abellan
June 19th, 2018
CARLOS ABELLAN
Optoelectronics
ICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences
Randomness is one of the most intriguing, inspiring and debated topics in the history of the world. It appears every time we wonder about our existence, about the way we are, e.g. Do we have free will? Is evolution a result of chance? It is also present in any attempt to understand our anchoring to the universe, and about the rules behind the universe itself, e.g. Why are we here and when and why did all this start? Is the universe deterministic or does unpredictability exist? Remarkably, randomness also plays a central role in the information era and technology. Random digits are used in communication protocols like Ethernet, in search engines and in processing algorithms as page rank. Randomness is also widely used in so-called Monte Carlo methods in physics, biology, chemistry, finance and mathematics, as well as in many other disciplines. However, the most iconic use of random digits is found in cryptography. Random numbers are used to generate cryptographic keys, which are the most basic element to provide security and privacy to any form of secure communication.
This thesis has been carried out with the following questions in mind: Does randomness exist in photonics? If so, how do we mine it and how do we mine it in a massively scalable manner so that everyone can easily use it? Addressing these two questions lead us to combine tools from fundamental physics and engineering. The thesis starts with an in-depth study of the phase diffusion process in semiconductor lasers and its application to random number generation. In contrast to other physical processes based on deterministic laws of nature, the phase diffusion process has a pure quantum mechanical origin, and, as such, is an ideal source for generating truly unpredictable digits.
First, we experimentally demonstrated the fastest quantum random number generation scheme ever reported (at the time), using components from the telecommunications industry only. Up to 40 Gb/s were demonstrated to be possible using a pulsed scheme. We then moved towards building prototypes and testing them with partners in supercomputation and fundamental research. In particular, the devices developed during this thesis were used in the landmark loophole- free Bell test experiments of 2015. In the process of building the technology, we started a new research focus as an attempt to answer the following question: How do we know that the digits that we generate are really coming from the phase diffusion process that we trust? As a result, we introduced the randomness metrology methodology, which can be used to derive quantitative bounds on the quality of any physical random number generation device. Finally, we moved towards miniaturisation of the technology by leveraging techniques from the photonic integrated circuits technology industry. The first fully integrated quantum random number generator was demonstrated using a novel two-laser scheme on an Indium Phosphide platform. In addition, we also demonstrated the integration of part of the technology on a Silicon Photonics platform, opening the door towards manufacturing in the most advanced semiconductor industry.
Tuesday June 19, 15:00. ICFO Auditorium
Thesis Advisor: Prof Dr Valerio Pruneri
ICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences
Randomness is one of the most intriguing, inspiring and debated topics in the history of the world. It appears every time we wonder about our existence, about the way we are, e.g. Do we have free will? Is evolution a result of chance? It is also present in any attempt to understand our anchoring to the universe, and about the rules behind the universe itself, e.g. Why are we here and when and why did all this start? Is the universe deterministic or does unpredictability exist? Remarkably, randomness also plays a central role in the information era and technology. Random digits are used in communication protocols like Ethernet, in search engines and in processing algorithms as page rank. Randomness is also widely used in so-called Monte Carlo methods in physics, biology, chemistry, finance and mathematics, as well as in many other disciplines. However, the most iconic use of random digits is found in cryptography. Random numbers are used to generate cryptographic keys, which are the most basic element to provide security and privacy to any form of secure communication.
This thesis has been carried out with the following questions in mind: Does randomness exist in photonics? If so, how do we mine it and how do we mine it in a massively scalable manner so that everyone can easily use it? Addressing these two questions lead us to combine tools from fundamental physics and engineering. The thesis starts with an in-depth study of the phase diffusion process in semiconductor lasers and its application to random number generation. In contrast to other physical processes based on deterministic laws of nature, the phase diffusion process has a pure quantum mechanical origin, and, as such, is an ideal source for generating truly unpredictable digits.
First, we experimentally demonstrated the fastest quantum random number generation scheme ever reported (at the time), using components from the telecommunications industry only. Up to 40 Gb/s were demonstrated to be possible using a pulsed scheme. We then moved towards building prototypes and testing them with partners in supercomputation and fundamental research. In particular, the devices developed during this thesis were used in the landmark loophole- free Bell test experiments of 2015. In the process of building the technology, we started a new research focus as an attempt to answer the following question: How do we know that the digits that we generate are really coming from the phase diffusion process that we trust? As a result, we introduced the randomness metrology methodology, which can be used to derive quantitative bounds on the quality of any physical random number generation device. Finally, we moved towards miniaturisation of the technology by leveraging techniques from the photonic integrated circuits technology industry. The first fully integrated quantum random number generator was demonstrated using a novel two-laser scheme on an Indium Phosphide platform. In addition, we also demonstrated the integration of part of the technology on a Silicon Photonics platform, opening the door towards manufacturing in the most advanced semiconductor industry.
Tuesday June 19, 15:00. ICFO Auditorium
Thesis Advisor: Prof Dr Valerio Pruneri