On hysteresis based random number generation

A new hysteresis-based technique for random number generation is presented which can be efficiently implemented by using modern spintronics based nano-technology. Thermal fluctuation induced random switchings of rectangular hysteresis loops are utilized whose outputs result in the generation of random binary numbers. Mathematically, the random switching is treated as a repeated sequence of two exit problems for stationary stochastic processes, which are shown to be reduced to the solution of initial boundary value problems for the appropriate backward Kolmogorov equations. Analytical solution of these boundary value problems are carried out for the stationary Gaussian Markov Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process. An alternative approach to the analysis of the random switching based on stochastic processes on graphs is also discussed with special attention paid to the trade-offs between the strength of thermal noise and the widths of the hysteresis loops.