https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06428-4
Regular Article
Randomness from radiation: evaluation and analysis of radiation-based random number generators
1
Department of Physics, NED University of Engineering and Technology, University Road, 75270, Karachi, Pakistan
2
Department of Computer Science and Information Technology, NED University of Engineering and Technology, University Road, 75270, Karachi, Pakistan
3
Department of Telecommunication Engineering, NED University of Engineering and Technology, University Road, 75270, Karachi, Pakistan
Received:
18
October
2024
Accepted:
14
May
2025
Published online:
30
May
2025
Random numbers are central to various applications such as secure communications, quantum key distribution theory, statistics, and other tasks. One of today’s most popular generators is quantum random numbers (QRNGs). The inherent randomness and true unpredictability in quantum mechanics allowed us to construct QRNGs that are more accurate and useful than traditional random number generators. Based on different quantum mechanical principles, several QRNGs have already been designed. The primary focus of this paper is the generation and analysis of quantum random numbers based on radioactive decay. In the experimental set, two beta-active radioactive sources, cobalt-60 (Co-60) and Strontium-90 (Sr-90), and an ST-360 counter with a Geiger–Müller tube are used to record the counts. The recorded data were then self-tested by entropy and frequency measurement. Moreover, popular testing technique, the National Institute of Science and Technology randomness testing, is used, to ensure that the guaranteed randomness meets security standards. The research provides the impact of the nature of the radioactive source, the distance between the counter and sources, and the recording time of the counts on generating quantum random numbers of radioactive QRNGs.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
