Systems and methods for single chip quantum random number generation

1. A system for quantum random number generation, the system comprising:

a quantum random number generation chip comprising

encoding circuitry configured to

generate a series of photons, and

transmit the series of photons over an optical line, and

decoding circuitry configured to

determine a set of quantum bases to use for measurement,

receive the series of photons over the optical line, and

decode, based on the determined set of quantum bases, the series of photons to generate a decoded set of bits.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the decoding circuitry is configured to receive the series of photons while they are not in a well-defined quantum state.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the series of photons comprise a series of non-polarized photons.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein a non-polarized photon comprises a photon whose polarization has not been measured.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the optical line comprises a non-polarization maintaining optical line.

6. The system of claim 1 ,

wherein the decoding circuitry comprises a bit manipulator circuit,

wherein the decoding circuitry is configured to decode the series of photons by measuring a polarization of the series of photons using the determined set of quantum bases, and

wherein the bit manipulator circuit is configured to convert the measured polarization of the series of photons into the decoded set of bits.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the encoding circuitry comprises:

a laser configured to generate light; and

an attenuator or deflector, wherein the attenuator or deflector is configured to transform the generated light into the series of photons.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the encoding circuitry comprises:

a single photon source configured to generate the series of photons.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the encoding circuitry comprises:

a modulating circuit configured to generate the series of photons.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of quantum bases comprises a time-dependent decoding schedule comprising a plurality of quantum bases respectively corresponding to a plurality of time periods, wherein the set of quantum bases comprises the plurality of quantum bases.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of quantum bases comprises a unit-dependent decoding schedule comprising a plurality of quantum bases respectively corresponding to a plurality of numbers of bits, wherein the set of quantum bases comprises the plurality of quantum bases.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the decoding circuitry is configured to not transmit electronic information indicative of the set of quantum bases.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of quantum bases comprises a pair of orthogonal photonic polarization states.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the pair of orthogonal photonic polarization states are selected at least partially from the group consisting of a pair of rectilinear photonic polarization states, a pair of diagonal photonic polarization states, and a pair of circular photonic polarization states.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the decoding circuitry is further configured to:

receive a control signal indicative of an instruction to initiate decoding based on the set of quantum bases; and

in response to receiving the control signal, decode the series of photons based on the set of quantum bases.

16. The system of claim 1 , further comprising session authentication circuitry configured to generate a session key based on the decoded set of bits.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein a session server comprises the session authentication circuitry.

18. The system of claim 16 , further comprising:

random number generation circuitry configured to generate a number based on the decoded set of bits,

wherein the session authentication circuitry is configured to generate the session key by

setting the session key equal to the generated number, or

using the generated number as a seed in a pseudo-random number generation technique, wherein an output of the pseudo-random number generation technique comprises the session key.

19. A method for quantum random number generation, the method comprising:

generating, by encoding circuitry of a quantum random number generation chip, a series of photons;

transmitting, by the encoding circuitry of the quantum random number generation chip, the series of photons over an optical line;

determining, by decoding circuitry of the quantum random number generation chip, a set of quantum bases to use for measurement;

receiving, by the decoding circuitry of the quantum random number generation chip, the series of photons over the optical line; and

decoding, by the decoding circuitry of the quantum random number generation chip, the series of photons on the determined set of quantum bases to generate a decoded set of bits.

20. A computer program product for quantum random number generation, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions that, when executed, cause a quantum random number generation chip to:

generate a series of photons;

transmit the series of photons over an optical line;

determine a set of quantum bases to use for measurement;

receive the series of photons over the optical line; and

decode, based on the determined set of quantum bases, the series of photons to generate a decoded set of bits.