Parallel random bitstreams from a single source of entropy based on nonthermal electrochemical microplasma

Abstract

This study presents the simultaneous generation of two uncorrelated and continuous high-quality random bitstreams originating from a single physical system based on confined, nonthermal electrochemical microplasma operating under atmospheric conditions. The randomness is intrinsically inherited from

Parallel and independent true random bitstreams from optical emission spectra of atmospheric microplasma arc discharge

“…Next, the NIST SP 800‐22 tests battery was applied on all bitstreams without any data post‐processing with a significance level . More details about the testing settings are given in [16,20]. In Table 1, we report a summary of the obtained NIST test results for bits 1–7 and for all eight selected peaks (as indicated in Figure 2a).…”

“…This resulted in two independent (uncorrelated) random bitstreams that were shown to pass successfully all tests in the National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-22 (NIST SP 800-22) battery for RBG applications without the need of any data post-processing tools; albeit at the cost of using two types of measuring devices and interfacing circuits. In both cases, the microplasma system, whether generated and sustained between two electrodes in atmospheric air or between an electrode and an electrolyte, constitutes a complex structure with unpredictable outcomes of physical (electrical or optical at least) measurements, [16][17][18][19][20][21] which is different from pseudo-RBGs based on deterministic computer algorithms.…”

Atmospheric pressure air microplasma current time series for true random bit generation

“…We followed a procedure similar to the one we reported in Ref. 5 , 19 in which we first brought the raw data to be centered around the zero-mean by applying a moving average function and removing the dc shift from the signal. Then, a base-2 representation of the absolute value of the sequence (after scaling up by 10 5 ) is generated using the MATLAB function dec2bin .…”

“…In addition, no data post-processing was required at any of the tested configurations. Nonetheless, improving the bit generation rate can be achieved by increasing the plasma generation power (may require higher capacity batteries), and/or combining more than one bit from the ADC module as we showed for Bit 3 and 4, and/or by using parallel acquisition lines for time-resolved current and optical emission intensities 5 .…”

“…This allows self-sustained and continuous operation without filamentation and glow-to-arc transition 1 . In addition, a complete microplasma system can be made light weight and small in size in different design geometries and configurations 2 – 5 . When air (at atmospheric pressure) is used as the plasma gas, and because no special housing or vacuum equipment are needed, the microplasma system becomes cost-effective and easy to operate 6 .…”