Astronomical random numbers for quantum foundations experiments

Understand

Photons from distant astronomical sources can be used as a classical source of randomness to improve fundamental tests of quantum nonlocality, wave-particle duality, and local realism through Bell's inequality and delayed-choice quantum eraser tests inspired by Wheeler's cosmic-scale Mach-Zehnder interferometer gedankenexperiment.

• Such sources of random numbers may also be useful for information-theoretic applications such as key distribution for quantum cryptography.
• Building on the design of an "astronomical random-number generator" developed for the recent "cosmic Bell" experiment [Handsteiner et al., Phys.
• Rev.