Digital information exchange can be made safer, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly with the help of a new type of random number generator for encryption developed at Linköping University in Sweden. The researchers behind the study believe that this new technology could pave the way for a new type of quantum communication.
In today’s increasingly connected world, cybersecurity is becoming more important than ever to protect not only individuals but also national infrastructure and banking systems. There is an ongoing race between hackers and those trying to protect information. The most common way to protect information is through encryption. When we send emails, pay bills, or shop online, the information is digitally encrypted.
To encrypt information, a random number generator is used, which can be either a computer program or hardware itself. The random number generator provides keys that are used to both encrypt and unlock the information at the receiving end.
Different types of random number generators provide different levels of randomness and security. Hardware is considered the safer option as randomness is controlled by physical processes. The hardware method that provides the best randomness is based on quantum phenomena, known as the Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG).
“In cryptography, it’s not only important that the numbers are random, but that you’re the only one who knows about them. With QRNGs, we can certify that a large amount of the generated bits is private and thus completely secure. And if the laws of quantum physics are true, it should be impossible to eavesdrop without the recipient finding out,” says Guilherme B Xavier, a researcher at the Department of Electrical Engineering at Linköping University.
Xavier’s research group, along with researchers at the Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (IFM), has developed a new type of QRNG that can be used for encryption, betting, and computer simulations. The unique feature of their QRNG is the use of light-emitting diodes made from the crystal-like material perovskite.
Their random number generator is among the best produced and compares well with similar products. Thanks to the properties of perovskites, it has the potential to be cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
Feng Gao, a professor at IFM and a researcher of perovskites for over a decade, believes that the recent development of perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs) opens up opportunities to revolutionize optical instruments.
“It’s possible to use a traditional laser for QRNG, but it’s expensive. If the technology is eventually to find its way into consumer electronics, it’s important that the cost is kept down and that the production is as environmentally friendly as possible. In addition, PeLEDs don’t require as much energy to run,” says Feng Gao.
The next step is to further develop the material to make the perovskite lead-free and extend its lifetime, which currently stands at 22 days. According to Guilherme B Xavier, their new QRNG could be available for use in cybersecurity within five years.
“It’s an advantage if electronic components that are to be used for sensitive data are manufactured in Sweden. If you buy a complete randomness generator kit from another country, you can’t be sure that it’s not being monitored.”
Reference: Argillander J, Alarcón A, Bao C, et al. Quantum random number generation based on a perovskite light-emitting diode. Commun Phys. 2023;6(1):1-7. doi: 10.1038/s42005-023-01280-3
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