We present the realization of a physical quantum random number generator based on the
process of splitting a beam of photons on a beam splitter, a quantum mechanical source of
true randomness. By utilizing either a beam splitter or a polarizing beam splitter, single
photon detectors and high speed electronics the presented devices are capable of
generating a binary random signal with an autocorrelation time of 11.8 ns and a continuous
stream of random numbers at a rate of 1 Mbit/s. The randomness of the generated signals …