Innovations Taking Quantum Random Number Generation to the Next Level

Over the past few years, quantum computing has been applied to various industries to solve complex situations. It is no surprise, then, that quantum random number generators (QRNG) have taken the world by storm. But, what is next for QRNGs? Let’s take a look at a couple of innovations that signal the future for QRNGs. 

World’s Fastest QRNG

Put simply, QRNGs are utilized in a wide range of applications – from entertainment to cryptography. The two thing that all these things have in common is the need for the numbers to be as quick and as reliably random as possible. Take online casino games, for example. When players try their hand at online bingo games at Paddy Power, RNGs are used in place of the traditional balls and spinning cage to produce the next winning number. In this sense, RNGs are crucial for providing an immersive and authentic experience at the click of a button – the randomness of the generators ensures that the results are purely down to chance, and are as fair as possible. 

Whereas traditional RNGs use algorithms to generate these random numbers, quantum random number generators (QRNGs) take advantage of the undeterminable nature of the laws of quantum physics and a physical machine to generate a random sequence of numbers. Even within the QRNG field there have been numerous innovations – from the diodes used, to the materials, computer chips, and receivers. This has resulted in the world’s fastest QRNG, developed by Quantum Dice and an offshoot of Oxford University’s quantum optics lab. The APEX QRNG has a 7.5 Gbit/s rate, and has proven to be reliable even when facing disturbances in the environment. The next-level QRNG is compatible with the majority of existing infrastructure and signals a new generation of randomness. 

First Reservoir Computer and QRNG

As you probably can imagine, QRNGs are complex and dynamic systems. With this in mind, innovators have turned their heads towards reservoir computing. If you are not familiar with the phenomena, reservoir computing essentially employs recurrent neural network theory, through which the signals of the input are mapped using a high-dimension space and the dynamics of a non-linear, fixed system, otherwise known as a reservoir. As such, both traditional and quantum computations can be achieved through reservoir computing, making it a great technology for QRNG. 

In October 2023, Quantum Computing Inc (or QCi) sold its first reservoir computer and QRNG solution. This makes the QCi Reservoir Computer the first portable reservoir computer to make it onto the market – a particular feat when considering the added functionality of quantum computing. It is said that the QCi Reservoir Computer consumes 80-95% less power than classic computers, making them extremely energy efficient. In addition, its small size and light weight contribute to a device that has a small footprint both in terms of physical space and carbon consumption. Despite its small stature, the QCi Reservoir Computer can carry out complex computations at an unprecedented speed and efficiency, which could revolutionize both artificial intelligence and data analysis alike. 

As you can see, QRNGs are seeing near-continuous development, and new innovations that take these devices to the next level. With advancements in materials and technologies, applications of different computational theory, and more, QRNGs are getting faster, more reliable, and more environmentally friendly overall.