US Patent 11994899 System that generates a shared random number

A system that generates a shared random number includes a single photon detector configured to generate electrical signals in response to detected arrival times of a plurality of single photons as measured against a first clock and configured to detect polarizations of at least some of the detected plurality of single photons. A processor is configured to process the electrical signals generated by the detector to generate a first list representing a plurality of arrival times and corresponding polarizations of detected single photons; compare the plurality of arrival times in the generated first list with a second list of arrival times, as measured against a second clock that does not maintain a common clock time with the first clock, of single photons that include at least some of the other entangled single photons to identifying matching arrival times; and determine corresponding polarizations for the identified matching arrival times, thereby establishing a shared random number.