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Re:Chernobyl Dice: A quantum random number generator with a ... by Calamity on Wednesday December 25, 2019 @05:46PM (#21880918)
Unlike the "pseudo-random" number generators used in software everywhere, here we have a truly "random" number generator (at least with our current understanding of physics).

Impossible to predict the next number - no matter how much information about the universe you know.

Re:Chernobyl Dice: A quantum random number generator with a ... by bcaa7f3a8bbc on Wednesday December 25, 2019 @08:52PM (#21881599)
If someone is building this device to protect one's private keys from the three-letter agencies, one may want to completely shield the Geiger counter and its radiation source with thick lead. Otherwise, the NSA may decide to remotely influence the behavior of the random number generator by beaming lethal level of gamma radiation toward the generator, and they would not care whether you are killed in this process. /joke
Re:Chernobyl Dice: A quantum random number generator with a ... by the8472 on Thursday December 26, 2019 @02:24AM (#21882470)
Most modern systems contain hardware RNGs that get noise from thermal effects, ultimately quantum too.
Re:Chernobyl Dice: A quantum random number generator with a ... by frutiger on Thursday December 26, 2019 @03:09AM (#21882564)
Thermal effects do not rely on quantum behaviour. They arise from an extremely large but classically deterministic state space.
Re:Chernobyl Dice: A quantum random number generator with a ... by pwnmonkey on Wednesday December 25, 2019 @10:13PM (#21881830)
Does this mean determinism is moot?
Re:Chernobyl Dice: A quantum random number generator with a ... by Calamity on Thursday December 26, 2019 @01:50PM (#21885803)
In my mind, Schrödinger's cat was an important thought experiment that pointed strongly in this direction. Whether it is just a limitation stemming from our current knowledge of physics or something else is still debatable.
Re:Chernobyl Dice: A quantum random number generator with a ... by EsssM7QVMehFPAs on Thursday December 26, 2019 @01:05AM (#21882271)
In quantum mechanics, yes it is. See Bell's theorem.
Re:Chernobyl Dice: A quantum random number generator with a ... by officialjunk on Thursday December 26, 2019 @02:58AM (#21882539)
And folks like Einstein felt quantum mechanics is an incomplete theory because of this. It is not an settled debate.