DRDO Young Scientists Laboratory Develops Quantum based technology for Random Number Generation

A Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG) has been developed by the DRDO Young Scientists Laboratory which detects random quantum events and converts those into a stream of binary digits.

“The DRDO Lab has developed a fiber-optic branch path based Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG). Branch path based QRNG is based on the principle that if a single photon is incident on a balanced beam splitter, it will take either of the beam-splitter output paths randomly. As the path chosen by photon is random, the randomness is translated to sequence of bits,” Ministry of Defence said in its press release.

Ministry of Defence further said, “QRNG system developed by the laboratory has passed the global randomness testing standards viz. NIST and Die-harder Statistical Test Suites at the speed of ~150 kbps after post-processing. The generated random numbers are also evaluated and verified using DRDO’s indigenously developed Randomness Testing Statistical Test Suite of SAG. With this development India enters the club of countries who have the technology to achieve the generation of random numbers based on the Quantum Phenomenon, “.

While explaining about this development, Ministry of Defence said, “Random numbers have essential roles in many fields, such as Quantum Communication, cryptography (key generation, key wrapping, authentication etc.), scientific simulations, lotteries and fundamental physics experiments. The generation of genuine randomness is generally considered impossible with classical means. Quantum Mechanics has the inherent potential of providing true random numbers and thus has become the preferred option for the scientific applications requiring randomness”.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had dedicated five DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories to the nation on January 2, 2020.

The new five DRDO Young Scientists Laboratories (DYSLs) are: