- A device that generates random numbers from a physical process, rather than by means of an algorithm. Such devices are often based on microscopic phenomena that generate low-level, statistically random “noise” signals, such as thermal noise, the photoelectric effect, involving a beam splitter, and other quantum phenomena. In theory, these stochastic processes are completely unpredictable for as long as an equation governing such phenomena is unknown or uncomputable. This is in contrast to the paradigm of pseudo-random number generation commonly implemented in computer programs. Unpredictable random numbers were first investigated in the context of gambling. ← Wikipedia
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