Certified randomness using a trapped-ion quantum processor

ORAL

Abstract

In many applications including cryptography, lotteries, and auditing, having randomness that can be trusted by all parties is crucial. Generation of certified randomness is impossible solely by classical computation, but possible with quantum devices. Utilizing beyond-classical random circuit sampling, we demonstrate certified randomness generation that is secure against attack from the most powerful supercomputers. Our protocol leverages the classical hardness of recent random circuit sampling demonstrations: a client generates quantum "challenge" circuits, sends them to an untrusted quantum server over the network to execute, and verifies the server's results. We prove the security of our protocol in several adversarial models, including a complexity theoretic proof. Our certified randomness experiment demonstrates a step towards the practical applicability of today's quantum computers.

*J.L., M.L., Y.A. and D.L. acknowledge support from the US Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Science, under contract DE-AC02-06CH11357 at Argonne National Laboratory and the USDOE, Office of Science, National Quantum Information Science Research Centers. S.A. and S.-H.H. acknowledge the support from the USDOE, Office of Science, National Quantum Information Science Research Centers and Quantum Systems Accelerator. T.S.H. was supported by the USDOE, Office of Science, Advanced Scientific Computing Research program office under the quantum computing user program. This research used supporting resources at the Argonne and the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facilities. The Argonne Leadership Computing Facility at Argonne National Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the US DOE under contract no. DE-AC02-06CH11357. The Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the US DOE under contract no. DE-AC05-00OR22725. This research used resources of the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC), a Department of Energy Office of Science User Facility using NERSC award DDR-ERCAP0030284.

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Publication: Liu, M., Shaydulin, R., Niroula, P. et al. Certified randomness using a trapped-ion quantum processor. Nature 640, 343–348 (2025).
Amer, O., Chakrabarti, S., Chakraborty, K. et al. Applications of certified randomness. Nat Rev Phys 7, 514–524 (2025).

Presenters

  • Ruslan Shaydulin

    • JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Authors

  • Minzhao Liu

    • JPMorganChase

  • Ruslan Shaydulin

    • JPMorgan Chase & Co.

  • Pradeep Niroula

    • JPMorgan Chase & Co.

  • Matthew P DeCross

    • Quantinuum

  • Shih-Han Hung

    • University of Texas at Austin

  • Wen Yu Kon

    • JPMorganChase

  • Enrique Cervero-Martin

    • JPMorganChase

  • Kaushik Chakraborty

    • JPMorganChase

  • Omar Amer

    • JPMorgan Chase & Co.

  • Scott Aaronson

    • University of Texas at Austin

  • Yuri Alexeev

    • NVIDIA Corporation
    • NVIDIA
    • Argonne National Laboratory

  • Shouvanik Chakrabarti

    • JPMorgan Chase & Co.

  • Florian J Curchod

    • Quantinuum

  • Joan M Dreiling

    • Quantinuum

  • Neal Erickson

    • Quantinuum

  • Cameron Foltz

    • Quantinuum

  • Michael Foss-Feig

    • Qauntinuum
    • Quantinuum

  • David Hayes

    • Quantinuum

  • Travis S Humble

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  • Niraj Kumar

    • JPMorgan Chase & Co.

  • Steven A Moses

    • Quantinuum

  • Charles Lim

    • JPMorganChase

  • Brian Neyenhuis

    • Quantinuum

  • Marco Pistoia

    • IonQ
    • JP Morgan Chase