A Simple and Low-Cost Quantum Random Number Generator Based on Coherent States

High-speed QRNG devices typically involve high costs and complex designs, limiting their accessibility. However, in many practical applications, simpler, low-cost QRNG devices are preferred due to their ability to provide easily deployable, cost-effective solutions that meet basic randomness requirements in environments where speed and complexity are not critical. This paper presents a quantum random number generator (QRNG) that uses the uncertainty in the number of photons in a stimulated emission state as a quantum noise source. This design allows for real-time random number generation using low-cost components. The final random bit sequences generated by our QRNG successfully pass all NIST SP800-22 and AIS31 statistical tests with the post-processing stage, demonstrating its reliability and practicality.