English

On-chip semi-device-independent quantum random number generator exploiting contextuality

Quantum Physics 2026-01-14 v1

Abstract

We present a semi-device-independent quantum random number generator (QRNG) based on the violation of a contextuality inequality, implemented by the integration of two silicon photonic chips. Our system combines a heralded single-photon source with a reconfigurable interferometric mesh to implement qutrit state preparation, transformations, and measurements suitable for testing a KCBS contextuality inequality. This architecture enables the generation of random numbers from the intrinsic randomness of single-photon interference in a complex optical network, while simultaneously allowing a quantitative certification of their security without requiring entanglement. We observe a contextuality violation exceeding the classical bound by more than 10{\sigma}, unambiguously confirming non-classical behavior. From this violation, we certify a conditional min-entropy per experimental round of Hmin = 0.077 +- 0.002, derived via a tailored semidefinite-programming-based security analysis. Each measurement outcome therefore contains at least 0.077 +- 0.002 bits of extractable genuine randomness, corresponding to an asymptotic generation rate of 21.7 +- 0.5 bits/s. These results establish a viable route towards general-purpose, untrusted quantum random number generators compatible with practical integrated photonic quantum networks.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.2601.08392,
  title  = {On-chip semi-device-independent quantum random number generator exploiting contextuality},
  author = {Maddalena Genzini and Caterina Vigliar and Mujtaba Zahidy and Hamid Tebyanian and Andrzej Gajda and Klaus Petermann and Lars Zimmermann and Davide Bacco and Francesco Da Ros},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.08392},
  year   = {2026}
}
R2 v1 2026-07-01T09:02:30.115Z