Random bit generation based on a self-chaotic microlaser with enhanced chaotic bandwidth

Abstract

Abstract Chaotic semiconductor lasers have been widely investigated for high-speed random bit generation, which is applied for the generation of cryptographic keys for classical and quantum cryptography systems. Here, we propose and demonstrate a self-chaotic microlaser with enhanced chaotic bandwidth for high-speed random bit generation. By designing tri-mode interaction in a deformed square microcavity laser, we realize a self-chaotic laser caused by two-mode internal interaction, and achieve an enhanced chaotic standard bandwidth due to the photon–photon resonance effect by introducing the third mode. Moreover, 500 Gb/s random bit generation is realized and the randomness is verified by the NIST SP 800-22 statistics test. Our demonstration promises the applications of microlasers in secure communication, chaos radar, and optical reservoir computing, and also provides a platform for the investigations of multimode nonlinear laser dynamics.