Claims
- 1. A method for RNG, comprising:
transmitting to a detector a sequence of pulses each having an intensity such that said detector would detect an average of one pulse per sequence of n pulses, wherein said sequence of pulses is transmitted during a first period of time; detecting a pulse in said detector; and determining a second period from when initiating said pulses to when said detector detects said pulse.
- 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining a ratio of said second period to said first period.
- 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising associating an integer between 1 and n with said second period.
- 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising gating said detector so that said detector is capable of detecting said pulses during said first period.
- 5. The method of claim I further comprising gating said detector so that said detector is not capable of detecting said pulses for a period at least as long as a dead time of said detector immediately after said first period.
- 6. The method of claim 1 wherein said detector is gated so that it is not capable of detecting said pulses for a period at least as long as a dead time of said detector beginning immediately after said step of detecting.
- 7. The method of claim 1 further comprising gating said detector so that said detector is only capable of detecting any one pulse of said sequence of pulses during a time when said pulse is anticipated to arrive in said detector.
- 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said detector is gated so that it is not capable of detecting said pulses for a period at least as long as a dead time of said detector beginning immediately after said step of detecting.
- 9. The method of claim I wherein said detector is an APD.
- 10. The method of claim 9 wherein said detector is gated by applying a voltage either below or above a threshold voltage for avalanche in said detector.
- 11. The method of claim 1 further comprising splitting each pulse into more than one sub pulse and time delaying at one sub pulse relative to one other sub pulse.
- 12. The method of claim 1 comprising RNG at a rate approaching log base 2 of the quantity n divided by the detector dead time.
- 13. The method of claim 12 where said rate is at least 25 percent.
- 14. The method of claim 12 wherein said rate is at least 50 percent.
- 15. The method of claim 12 wherein said rate is at least 75 percent.
- 16. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining in which of a sequence of time intervals said detecting occurs.
- 17. The method of claim 16 wherein a sum of said n time intervals substantially equals said first period of time.
- 18. A system for RNG, comprising:
a transmitter for transmitting a sequence of pulses each having an intensity; a detector for detecting pulses; a transmission channel channeling said sequence of pulses from said transmitter to said detector such that said detector would detect an average of one pulse per sequence of n pulses, wherein said sequence of pulses is transmitted during a first period of time; and means for determining a second period from when initiating said pulses to when said detector detects said pulse.
- 19. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for determining a ratio of said second period to said first period.
- 20. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for associating an integer between 1 and n with said second period.
- 21. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for gating said detector so that said detector is capable of detecting said pulses during said first period.
- 22. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for gating said detector so that said detector is not capable of detecting said pulses for a period at least as long as a dead time of said detector immediately after said first period.
- 23. The system of claim 18 wherein said detector is gated so that it is not capable of detecting said pulses for a period at least as long as a dead time of said detector beginning immediately after said step of detecting.
- 24. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for gating said detector so that said detector is only capable of detecting any one pulse of said sequence of pulses during a time when said pulse is anticipated to arrive in said detector.
- 25. The system of claim 24 wherein said detector is gated so that it is not capable of detecting said pulses for a period at least as long as a dead time of said detector beginning immediately after said step of detecting.
- 26. The system of claim 18 wherein said detector is an APD.
- 27. The system of claim 26 wherein said detector is gated by applying a voltage either below or above a threshold voltage for avalanche in said detector.
- 28. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for splitting each pulse into more than one sub pulse and time delaying at one sub pulse relative to one other sub pulse.
- 29. The system of claim 18 designed to provide RNG at a rate approaching log base 2 of the quantity n divided by the detector dead time.
- 30. The method of claim 29 where said rate is at least 25 percent.
- 31. The method of claim 30 wherein said rate is at least 50 percent.
- 30. The method of claim 29 wherein said rate is at least 75 percent.
- 31. The system of claim 18 further comprising means for determining in which of a sequence of n time intervals said detecting occurs.
- 32. The system of claim 31 wherein a sum of said n time intervals substantially equals said first period of time.
- 33. An apparatus for providing random number generation at a rate R substantially larger than 1/τd, comprising,
a source of light providing low photon number; a single photon detector; a channel to convey the photons from the source to the detector; means to attenuate the light, if necessary; means for gating a detector, if desired; means for synchronizing the source, detector, and other components of the random number generation apparatus; means for distinguishing between detector events that occur during a number of possible different time slots over a detection cycle; means of correlating photon receipt time in the detector with a timing reference for random number generation; means for recording, processing, and outputting random numbers.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 USC 119(e) and the Paris Convention to United States provisional application serial number 60/289,591, filed May 09, 2001. The entire contents of that application are hereby incorporated by reference.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US02/11873 |
5/3/2002 |
WO |
|