Generating True Randomness through Quantum Entanglement

Applications of randomness ranging from cryptography to prevention of gerrymandering require immediate access to certified random bits. Current random number generators (RNGs) output a sequence of binary bits in a random pattern based on a given entropy source such as user activity or radioactive decay. For instance, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) currently has a public randomness beacon that generates 512 random bits per minute using various hardware and algorithmic entropy sources. In general, a public randomness beacon is a service that emits random bits at a regular interval and is used in several cryptographic applications. However, with regular RNGs, there are three main unsolvable issues: one cannot directly certify the randomness of the output bits, you cannot guarantee the randomness of the underlying process, and you cannot vouch for the security of the system. Recently, NIST has developed a new kind of random number generator that uses quantum entanglement to address the first two issues, and does not need to make detailed assumptions about the underlying device implementation. In this talk I'll discuss how NIST plans to incorporate the random bits generated using entanglement into their next-generation randomness beacon.