Multiplexing quantum tunneling diodes for random number generation

Random numbers are indispensable resources for application in modern science and technology. Therefore, a dedicate entropy source is essential, particularly cryptographic tasks and modern applications. In this work, we experimentally demonstrated a scheme to generate random numbers by multiplexing eight tunnel diodes onto a single circuit. As a result, the data rate of random number generation was significantly enhanced to eight folds. In comparison to the original scheme that employed one diode, this multiplexing scheme produced data with higher entropy. These data were then post-processed with the Toeplitz-hashing extractor, yielding final outputs that achieved almost full entropy and satisfied the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-90B validation. These data also passed the NIST Special Publication 800-22 statistical randomness examination and had no sign of patterns detected from an autocorrelation analysis.Comment: This article appeared in Rev. Sci. Instrum. 94, 014704 (2023) and may be found at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.011399