Apparatus, systems, and methods comprising tritium random number generator

1. A true random number generator (TRNG) comprising:

a cavity filled with tritium;

an electronic sensor constructed to detect energy from the decay of the tritium and to produce a signal for the detected energy;

an amplifier connected to the sensor and constructed to amplify the signal;

a filter connected to the amplifier constructed to filter the signal;

a processor connected to the filter, constructed to perform the following steps:

a. determine whether the signal represents decay events for tritium;

b. set a timer to determine the time period between decay events;

c. based on the time period in step (b), assign a value of a 0 or a 1;

d. store the value in a memory;

e. repeat steps (b)-(d), resulting in a string of values; and

f. generate a true random number based on the string of values.

2. The TRNG of claim 1 ,

wherein step (b) further comprises determining:

a first time period T 1 between a first pair of decay events;

a second time period T 2 between a second pair of decay events; and

wherein step (c) further comprises comparing T 1 to T 2 and assigning the value based on the comparison.

3. The TRNG of claim 2 , wherein the first pair of decay events and the second pair of decay events share a common decay event.

4. The TRNG of claim 1 , wherein the cavity, sensor amplifier, filter and processor are formed on an integrated circuit.

5. The TRNG of claim 1 , wherein the volume of tritium is less than 0.03 μL.

6. The TRNG of claim 1 , wherein the maximum radioactivity of the tritium is less than 3×10 −5 Ci.

7. The TRNG of claim 1 , wherein the processor generates an array of true random numbers.

8. The TRNG of claim 7 , wherein the processor provides one of an array of true random numbers to a cryptographic client; and deletes the delivered true random number from the memory.

9. The TRNG of claim 8 , wherein the one of an array of true random number provided is the oldest one in the array.

10. The TRNG of claim 7 , wherein when the memory is full, the processor deletes the oldest one in the array of true random numbers.

11. The TRNG of claim 1 , wherein the true random number is comprised of 256 bits or 512 bits.

12. The TRNG of claim 1 , wherein the amount of tritium is sufficient to create at least one million decay events per second.

13. The TRNG of claim 1 , wherein the timer has a clock frequency of at least 1 GHz.

14. The TRNG of claim 1 , wherein the amplifier comprises a low noise charge-sensitive preamplifier or a pulse shaping amplifier.

15. A personal electronic device comprising:

a true random number generator comprising:

a cavity filled with tritium;

an electronic sensor constructed to detect energy from the decay of the tritium and to produce a signal for the detected energy;

an amplifier connected to the sensor and constructed to amplify the signal;

a filter connected to the amplifier constructed to filter the signal;

a processor connected to the filter, constructed to perform the following steps:

a. determine whether the signal represents decay events for tritium;

b. set a timer to determine the time period between decay events;

c. based on the time period in step (b), assign a value of a 0 or a 1;

d. store the value in a memory;

e. repeat steps (b)-(d), resulting in a string of values; and

f. generate an array of true random numbers based on the string of values;

a cryptographic client adapted to receive one of an array of true random numbers.

16. The personal electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the true random number is used to encrypt a communication channel, to render computer simulations, or to render computer gaming.

17. The personal electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the cavity, sensor amplifier, filter and processor are formed on an integrated circuit.

18. The personal electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the volume of tritium is less than 0.03 μL.

19. The personal electronic device of claim 15 , wherein the maximum radioactivity of the tritium is less than 3×10 −5 Ci.

20. A method of generating a true random number using tritium, the method comprising:

a. providing a volume of tritium;

b. detecting an energy signal from the decay of the tritium;

c. determining whether the energy signal represents decay events for tritium;

d. setting a timer to determine the time period between decay events;

e. assigning a value of a 0 or a 1 based on the time period;

f. storing the value;

g. repeating steps (b)-(f), resulting in a string of values; and

h. generating an array of true random numbers based on the string of values.

21. The method of claim 20 ,

wherein step (d) further comprises determining:

a first time period T 1 between a first pair of decay events;

a second time period T 2 between a second pair of decay events; and

wherein step (e) further comprises comparing T 1 to T 2 and assigning the value based on the comparison.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the first pair of decay events and the second pair of decay events share a common decay event.

23. The method of claim 20 , the method further comprising:

i. providing one of an array of true random numbers to a cryptographic client; and

j. deleting the delivered true random number from the memory.

24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the one of an array of true random number provided is the oldest one in the array.

25. The method of claim 20 , wherein the true random number is comprised of 256 bits or 512 bits.