Better cybersecurity with a new quantum random number generator

The exchange of digital information can be more secure, economical and environmentally sustainable thanks to a new type of random number generator for cryptography developed at Linköping University in Sweden. The researchers behind the study believe the new technology paves the way for a new type of quantum communication. In an increasingly interconnected world, cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important to protect not only the individual, but also, for example, national infrastructure and banking systems. At the same time, there is a race between hackers and those trying to protect information. Encryption remains the primary strategy for protecting information. So, as we send emails, shop online, or pay bills, our data is digitally encrypted.

The role of quantum random number generators

Random number generators, which can be either software or hardware, play a vital role in cryptography. These generators offer the crucial keys that are used to encrypt and unlock the information at the receiving end. Different types of random number generators generate different levels of randomness and therefore security. Hardware is the safest option since randomness is controlled by physical processes. And the hardware method that offers the best randomness is based on quantum phenomena, what researchers call Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG). "In cryptography, it is not only important that the numbers are random, but that only you know about them. With QRNGs we can certify that a large amount of generated bits are private and therefore completely secure. And if the laws of quantum physics are true, it should be impossible to intercept without the recipient realizing it,” says Guilherme B. Xavier, a researcher at the Department of Electrical Engineering at Linköping University.

QRNG innovations: the perovskite advantage

His research group, together with researchers from the Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM), has developed a new type of QRNG that can be used for cryptography, but also for betting and computer simulations. The new feature of the Linköping researchers' QRNG is the use of light-emitting diodes made from the crystal-like material called perovskite.

Future prospects and developments

The next step is to further develop the material to make the perovskite lead-free and to extend its lifetime, currently 22 days. According to Guilherme B. Xavier, their new QRNG could be available for use in cybersecurity within 5 years. "It is an advantage if electronic components intended for sensitive data are produced in Sweden. If you buy a complete random generator kit from another country, you cannot be sure that it will not be monitored," says Xavier.