Chaotic physical systems as random number sources (fwd)

[Jim Choate]

Forwarded message:

> Date: Tue, 20 Feb 1996 14:47 EDT
> From: "E. ALLEN SMITH" <EALLENSMITH at ocelot.Rutgers.EDU>
> Subject: Chaotic physical systems as random number sources
> 
> 	I'm curious if anyone knows of any attempts to use a chaotic physical
> system (such as the famous double pendulum) as a source of random numbers.

I have used magnetic pendulums for this as well as chaotic dripping (both
with an old C64).

> 	One problem that I can see is that of strange attractors. While the
> path through each time would be different, they're still _close_ to each other,
> and a practical mechanical system might not be sensitive enough to pick up the
> differences.


Not necessarily. In both the magentic pendulum and chaotic pendulums this is
not a problem.


                                              Jim Choate
                                              ravage at ssz.com