A team of researchers at Linköping University has developed a new type of random number generator for encryption that has the potential to make digital information exchange safer, cheaper, and more environmentally friendly. The researchers believe that their technology could pave the way for a new type of quantum communication.
Encryption is the most common way to protect information when it is digitally exchanged. To encrypt information, a random number generator is used to provide keys that are used to both encrypt and unlock the information. Different types of random number generators provide different levels of randomness and security. Hardware-based generators, which control randomness through physical processes, are considered to be the safest option. Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs), which are based on quantum phenomena, provide the best randomness and security.
“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,” explains Guilherme B Xavier, a researcher at Linköping University.
Xavier’s research group, in collaboration with researchers from the Department of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (IFM), has developed a new type of QRNG that utilizes light emitting diodes (LEDs) made from a crystal-like material called perovskite. The researchers state that their QRNG is among the best produced and compares well with similar products on the market. Additionally, the properties of perovskites make the QRNG potentially cheaper and more environmentally friendly.
Feng Gao, a professor at IFM who has been researching perovskites for over a decade, believes that the recent development of perovskite light emitting diodes (PeLEDs) opens up opportunities to revolutionize optical instruments. Traditional lasers can be used for QRNG, but they are expensive. Gao emphasizes the importance of keeping costs down and ensuring environmentally friendly production if the technology is to be integrated into consumer electronics. PeLEDs also require less energy to operate.
The researchers’ next step is to further develop the material used in the perovskite LEDs to make it lead-free and extend its lifetime, which currently stands at 22 days. Xavier estimates that their new QRNG could be available for use in cybersecurity within the next five years.
Xavier also highlights the advantage of manufacturing electronic components, particularly those used for sensitive data, within Sweden. He emphasizes the potential risks of purchasing randomness generator kits from other countries, where monitoring of the devices is not guaranteed.
The development of this new type of random number generator has the potential to enhance the security of digital information exchange. As technologies evolve, it is crucial to continue innovating encryption methods to keep pace with emerging threats. By utilizing the properties of perovskites and quantum phenomena, the researchers at Linköping University have made significant strides towards achieving this goal.