科学美国人60秒:Photonic Chip Could Strengthen Smartphone Encryption

Random numbers are hugely important for modern computing. They're used to encrypt credit card numbers and emails. To inject randomness into online gaming. And to simulate super complex phenomena, like protein folding or nuclear fission.
随机数字对于现代计算系统至关重要。因为可以用随机数字对信用卡以及邮件加密。同时随机数字可以为网络游戏增加随机性，模拟超级复杂的现象，如，蛋白质的结构以及核裂变。
But here's the dirty secret: a lot of these so-called random numbers are not truly random. They're actually what’s known as "pseudo random numbers," generated by algorithms. Think of generating random numbers by rolling dice. If you know the number of dice, it’s simple to figure out something about the realm of possible random numbers—thus putting probabilistic limits on the randomness.
但是有一个不可告人的秘密，那就是很多这些所谓的随机数字实际上不是随机的。它们实际上是由算法产生的“伪随机数”。想想通过摇骰子产生的随机数字。如果你知道骰子的数量，很容易计算出可能产生的随机数字。这样就限制了随机的概率性。
But truly random numbers can be generated through quantum mechanical processes. So researchers built a photonic chip—a computer chip that uses photons instead of electrons. The chip has two lasers: one shoots continuously; the other pulses at regular intervals. Each time the two lasers meet, the interference between the light beams is random, thanks to the rules of quantum mechanics. The chip then digitizes that random signal, and voila: a quantum random number generator. The study is in the journal Optica.
但是，真正的随机数字可以通过量子力学产生。所以研究人员，建立了一个光子芯片——这个计算机芯片可以利用光子代替电子。同是该激光有两个激光器——一个激光器可以不停发射激光，而另外一个是定期发射。每一次两种激光相遇，根据量子力学的规则，这两束光束之间的干扰是随机的。芯片然后将随机的信号数字化，那就是：量子随机数生成器。该研究结果发表在Optica杂志。
It's not the first time this sort of thing's been built. But compared to old prototypes, this chip is much smaller—a sixth the size of a penny—and works at high speeds. Meaning small and fast enough for a smartphone? The researchers say that's an entirely predictable outcome.
这并不是第一个量子随机数生成器。但与之前的相比，这个芯片更小——是为一便士的1/6——并以运转高速。这意味着，其对智能手机而言，体积小，但运转快?研究人员表示，最后的结果将不会出乎大家的意料。