Quantum entanglement represents an ideal resource to guarantee the security of random numbers employed in many scientific and cryptographic applications. However, entanglement-based certified random number generators are particularly challenging to implement. Here, we demonstrate a certified quantum random number generator based on momentum-polarization entangled single-photon states. The use of single-photon entanglement allows an attenuated laser source to be employed and a simple setup where only linear optical components are utilized. For the latter, a semi-device-independent modeling of the photonic quantum random number generator is developed, which certifies a minimum entropy of $(2.5\pm 0.5)\mathrm{\%}$, corresponding to a generation rate of 4.4 kHz. At the expenses of a higher level of trust in the system, the certified minimum entropy can be increased to $(30.1\pm 0.5)\mathrm{\%}$, implying a generation rate of 52.7 kHz. Our results show that a simple optical implementation combined with an accurate modeling provide an entanglement-based high-security quantum random number generator using imperfect devices.

• Received 20 September 2021
• Revised 21 November 2021
• Accepted 20 January 2022

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.17.034011