Exploring Quantum Random Numbers In Python

Introduction

Quantum Computing is a rapidly growing field that leverages the principles of quantum physics to process information. Even though the field is still in its nascence, there are many exciting developments happening. One of these areas is the generation of random numbers. Albeit random numbers might sound simple, they have a multitude of usages in modern technology, primarily in cryptography. Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs) can produce truly random numbers, which is unlike pseudo-random numbers typically generated by classical computers.

In this blog post, we will use Python to connect to an online-service that uses a real QRNG to generate these random numbers.

Quantum Random Numbers

In a truly Quantum Random Number Generator (QRNG), the generation of random numbers is dictated by the laws of quantum mechanics. For instance, a common method is to use the polarization states of a photon or energy levels of an atom. Since these states are truly random, we can achieve a far higher level of randomization than traditional means.

QRNGs are used in a plethora of applications, primarily focused on cryptography and secure communications.

In the next section, we will see how to use Python to access an API offering a true QRNG.

Fetching Quantum Random Numbers with Python

Before beginning, you need to install the necessary Python libraries. These include requests to access data over the internet, and json to parse the received data. You can install the necessary library using pip:

pip install requests

Now, let's write the Python code to fetch the quantum random numbers. We're going to use the QRNG service provided by the Australian National University. This service lets you receive up to 1024 numbers between 0 and 1, each generated through a physical QRNG.

import requests
import json

def fetch_quantum_random_numbers(n=1):
    url = f"https://qrng.anu.edu.au/API/jsonI.php?length={n}&type=uint16"
    response = requests.get(url)
    data = json.loads(response.text)
    return data['data']

random_numbers = fetch_quantum_random_numbers(5)
print(random_numbers)

In the above Python code snippet, we define a function fetch_quantum_random_numbers that takes in a single parameter n denoting the number of random numbers you want to fetch. The function constructs a URL for the QRNG API and fetches the data. And then it parses the received JSON data and returns the generated random numbers.

Conclusion

Quantum Random Number Generators are a fascinating application of quantum physics. They provide a mechanism to produce truly random numbers, which bolsters security in cryptographic applications. Python developers can leverage APIs like the one provided by ANU to use these quantum-generated random numbers in their applications.