科学美国人60秒 SSS Photonic Chip Could Strengthen Smartphone Encryption
时间：2019-01-20 作者：英语课 分类：2016年Scientific American(九)月
Random 1 numbers are hugely important for modern computing 2. They're used to encrypt credit card numbers and emails. To inject randomness 3 into online gaming. And to simulate super complex phenomena 4, like protein folding or nuclear fission 5.
But here's the dirty secret: a lot of these so-called random numbers are not truly random. They're actually what’s known as "pseudo random numbers," generated by algorithms. Think of generating random numbers by rolling dice 6. If you know the number of dice, it’s simple to figure out something about the realm of possible random numbers—thus putting probabilistic limits on the randomness.
But truly random numbers can be generated through quantum mechanical processes. So researchers built a photonic chip—a computer chip that uses photons instead of electrons. The chip has two lasers: one shoots continuously; the other pulses at regular intervals 7. Each time the two lasers meet, the interference between the light beams is random, thanks to the rules of quantum mechanics. The chip then digitizes that random signal, and voila: a quantum random number generator 8. The study is in the journal Optica. [Carlos Abellan et al., Quantum entropy source on an InP photonic integrated circuit for random number generation]
It's not the first time this sort of thing's been built. But compared to old prototypes, this chip is much smaller—a sixth the size of a penny—and works at high speeds. Meaning small and fast enough for a smartphone? The researchers say that's an entirely 9 predictable outcome.
—Christopher Intagliata
- The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。
- On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
- to work in computing 从事信息处理
- Back in the dark ages of computing, in about 1980, they started a software company. 早在计算机尚未普及的时代（约1980年），他们就创办了软件公司。
- The randomness is attributed to the porous medium. 随机性起因于多孔介质。 来自辞典例句
- Einstein declared that randomness rather than lawfulness is the characteristic of natural events. 爱因斯坦宣称自然现象的特征为不可测性而不是规律化。 来自辞典例句
- Ade couldn't relate the phenomena with any theory he knew.艾德无法用他所知道的任何理论来解释这种现象。
- The object of these experiments was to find the connection,if any,between the two phenomena.这些实验的目的就是探索这两种现象之间的联系，如果存在着任何联系的话。
- The fission of the cell could be inhibited with certain chemicals.细胞的裂变可以通过某些化学药品加以抑制。
- Nuclear fission releases tremendous amounts of energy.核裂变释放出巨大的能量。
- The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴，有阵雨。
- Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。
- All the while the giant generator poured out its power.巨大的发电机一刻不停地发出电力。
- This is an alternating current generator.这是一台交流发电机。