While standard laser range finders use modulation signals, such as sharp pulses and periodic signals, to generate fast physical random numbers, our method does away with the modulator, and instead, utilizes laser diodes’ frequency noise and a frequency discriminator, to produce the intensity noise signals that generate fast physical random numbers. Observed through a frequency discriminator, beams having the same intensity noise patterns travel along two different paths, but with a time lag. We measured and calculated their cross-correlation, confirming the degree of difference in their optical paths, up to a distance of 50 m. We improved range resolution by taking advantage of the polynomial approximation of the coefficients around the peak of the correlation waveform.
While optical laser range finders use random signals to determine distance, a laser diode’s fast frequency noise can perform the task. Moreover, this signal can be applied to physical-random number generation. This research describes a method, whereby laser diode’s frequency noise characteristics generate a large number of physical-random numbers and determine the distance to a target [1] [2]. We tested the random number generating- and distance- measuring capabilities of two types of lasers; a Fabry-Perot-LD and VCSEL: (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser). With the Fabry-Perot etalon functioning as frequency discriminator, we investigated the physical-random numbers’ characteristics from both Fabry-Perot-LD’s and the VCSEL’s characteristic’s points of view. We verified the generated binary number’s randomness, using NIST FIPS140-2 test, and noted the Random Number Generation (RNG) speed of a FP-LD was 48 Gbit/s, and that of a VCSEL was 159 Gbit/s. When the generation speed of the physical-random number is high, we can increase the sampling rate of our range finders and improve resolution.
Not so long ago, pseudo random numbers generated by numerical formulae were considered to be adequate for encrypting important data-files, because of the time needed to decode them. With today’s ultra high-speed processors, however, this is no longer true. So, in order to thwart ever-more advanced attempts to breach our system’s protections, cryptologists have devised a method that is considered to be virtually impossible to decode, and uses what is a limitless number of physical random numbers. This research describes a method, whereby laser diode’s frequency noise generate a large quantities of physical random numbers. Using two types of photo detectors (APD and PIN-PD), we tested the abilities of two types of lasers (FP-LD and VCSEL) to generate random numbers. In all instances, an etalon served as frequency discriminator, the examination pass rates were determined using NIST FIPS140-2 test at each bit, and the Random Number Generation (RNG) speed was noted.
While standard laser range finders use modulation signals, such as sharp pulses, the method we devised employs laser diode's frequency noise, and a frequency discriminator, to produce the intensity noise signal, which we use to generate fast physical random numbers. Observed through a frequency discriminator, beams traveling along two different paths share intensity noise patterns, i.e., the same fast physical random numbers, but with a time lag. We compared the two, and calculated their cross-correlation. By sweeping their time lags, we confirmed the length of the two optical paths, up to 50m.
An inordinate amount of time, effort (and paper) has been spent trying to find a way to stabilize laser-diode frequencies, but our research team has been working on the premise, that frequency instability can, in fact, have its up-sides. In the present work, we focus on a method that uses laser diodes’ own noise to generate physical random numbers. Introducing a frequency discriminator as a reference, we control and stabilize the difference between the frequency reference and the laser frequency, thereby generating random numbers at a suitable point.
An optical range finder system that relies on laser diodes’ frequency noise, instead of intensity or frequency modulations, and its improvement in resolution are reported. The distance to the target is measured by calculating the cross-correlation of two signals reflected from the target and reference mirrors. These two signals are converted from the laser diodes’ frequency noise signals by frequency/intensity converters, such as a Fabry–Perot etalon. We obtained the distance to the target by checking time lags between the target and reference beams at the highest correlation coefficient. We also measured the change in the correlation coefficient around the peak sampling point by adjusting the reference-path length, achieving a resolving power of ±3 mm.
Semiconductor laser range-finder systems use so-called “time-of-flight” methods that require us to modulate semiconductor lasers’ intensity and frequency, and detect those of reflected lights, in order to compare optical paths to the reference and the target. But, accurate measurement requires both high-speed modulation and detection systems. By taking advantage of semiconductor lasers’ broad- spectrum frequency noise, which has a range of up to a few GHz, and converting it to intensity noise, we were able to generate a set of high-speed physical random numbers that we used to precisely measure the distance. We tuned the semiconductor lasers’ oscillation frequencies loosely to the Rb absorption line and converted their frequency noise to intensity noise, in the light transmitted. Observed through a frequency discriminator, beams traveling along two different paths will always share intensity noise patterns, but there is a time lag. We calculate the cross-correlation of the two signals by sweeping their time lags. The one with the highest degree of correlation was that corresponding to the difference in the length of the two optical paths. Through our experiments, we confirmed that the system was accurate up to a distance of 50 m, at a resolution of 0.03 m, when the sampling rate was adjusted to 0.2 ns.
We describe a method of generating physical random numbers by means of a diode laser that has an extremely wide-band frequency-noise profile. Fluctuations in the laser frequency affect the intensity of the light transmitted through the optical frequency discriminator, detected thereafter as random fluctuations. This allows us to simultaneously generate 8 random bit streams, due to the parallel processing of 8-digit binary numbers sampled by an 8-bit analog-to-digital converter. Finally, we generated physical random numbers at a rate of 3 Gbit/s, by combining one data stream with another stream that is delayed by 2 ms, by exclusive-OR.
Random numbers can be classified as either pseudo- or physical-random, in character. Pseudo-random
numbers are generated by definite periodicity, so, their usefulness in cryptographic applications is
somewhat limited. On the other hand, naturally-generated physical-random numbers have no calculable
periodicity, thereby making them ideal for the task. Diode lasers' considerable wideband noise gives them
tremendous capacity for generating physical-random numbers, at a high rate of speed. We measured a
diode laser's output with a fast photo detector, and evaluated the binary-numbers from the diode laser's
frequency noise characteristics. We then identified and evaluated the binary-number-line's statistical
properties. We also investigate the possibility that much faster physical-random number
parallel-generation is possible, using separate outputs of different optical-path length and character, which
we refer to as "coherence collapse".
Random numbers can be classified as either pseudo- or physical-random in character. Pseudo-random numbers'
periodicity renders them inappropriate for use in cryptographic applications, but naturally-generated physical-random
numbers have no calculable periodicity, thereby making them ideally-suited to the task. The laser diode naturally
produces a wideband "noise" signal that is believed to have tremendous capacity and great promise, for the rapid
generation of physical-random numbers for use in cryptographic applications. We measured a laser diode's output, at a
fast photo detector and generated physical-random numbers from frequency noises. We then identified and evaluated the
binary-number-line's statistical properties. The result shows that physical-random number generation, at speeds as high
as 40Gbps, is obtainable, using the laser diode's frequency noise characteristic.
We demonstrate nanofabrication of photoreactive azobenzene molecular thin films using optical migration of molecules induced by local polarization in optical near-fields. Transportation and alignment control of the nanomaterial systems were investigated to modulate the excitation of the optical near-fields. Energy transfers from fluorescent molecules were observed along a planar boundary system of metals and dielectrics. The fundamental processes of tunneling energy that flowed to the metallic layer were evaluated from the angular distribution of scattered light in a far field, corresponding to the angular spectrum of scattered fields, including those of evanescent waves excited near the fluorescent molecules and nanostructures fabricated on azo molecular films.
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