YLIKOSKI@FINFUN.BITNET (07/01/88)
Date: Fri, 24 Jun 88 18:58 EDT
From: YLIKOSKI%FINFUN.BITNET@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: ZAD random number generator
To: AILIST@AI.AI.MIT.EDU
X-Original-To: @AILIST, YLIKOSKI
Distribution-File:
AILIST@AI.AI.MIT.EDU
In a recent AIList issue, it was inquired what kind of random number
generator a Zener diode / A-D converter generator would be.
I recall that noise from a Zener diode is quantum mechanical and
follows a well-known and well-defined theoretical spectrum (might it
be the 1/f law?). As is well known, distributions can be transformed
to obtain the desired one (exponential / Gaussian etc.).
Combining the results by Santha and Vazira mentioned by Albert
Boulanger with a quantum electrodynamical source of noise might even
best a good pseudorandom number generator.
Andy Ylikoski