u/Jumpy-Extreme2410

I will be applying to—and hopefully will be accepted into—a PhD program this year. My biggest question is: how did you find your research ideas? I am in the field of quantum computing and want to specialize in Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), but I don't really know where I could push the boundaries. Do you have any ideas on how I could come up with one?

My advisor asked me to arrive with an original idea; in the worst-case scenario, he could provide one, but I would prefer to find it myself. My current strategy is to read as many research papers on the subject as possible to see if an idea strikes. Is this a good strategy?