> > Most noise is quantum noise (including the one quoted, even though electron avalanche is a classic phenomenon, in semiconductors it's going to have quantum effects)
> > But in the end it doesn't matter, any unpredictable, non manipulable source of randomness is fine. Other sources of noise in electrical circuits (apart from quantum noise origins) are interference (like the 60Hz hum, radio interference, and even background radiation)
> This article seems to be talking about using quantum effects for random number generation.
> The devices you point to use the semiconductor avalanche effect (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalanche_breakdown) which is a thermal effect.
> > Most noise is quantum noise (including the one quoted, even though electron avalanche is a classic phenomenon, in semiconductors it's going to have quantum effects)
> > But in the end it doesn't matter, any unpredictable, non manipulable source of randomness is fine. Other sources of noise in electrical circuits (apart from quantum noise origins) are interference (like the 60Hz hum, radio interference, and even background radiation)