Physically-secured high-fidelity free-space optical data transmission through scattering media using dynamic scaling factors

Yin Xiao, Lina Zhou, Zilan Pan, Yonggui Cao, Wen Chen

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a method of physically-secured high-fidelity free-space optical data transmission through scattering media using physically- and dynamically-generated scaling factors. Optical channel characteristics are explored, and scaling factors are physically and dynamically generated to serve as security keys in the developed free-space optical data transmission system. The generated dynamic scaling factors provide a security layer for free-space optical data transmission. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first time to physically and dynamically generate scaling factors in free-space optical data transmission system to realize data encryption. The scaling factors existing in free-space optical data transmission channel are physically and dynamically controlled by using two optical devices, i.e., variable beam attenuator (VBA) and amplitude-only spatial light modulator (SLM). Nonlinear and dynamic variation of scaling factors is realized in different free-space wave propagation environments. It is experimentally demonstrated that high security can be guaranteed in the developed physically-secured high-fidelity free-space optical data transmission system, since one random scaling factor is physically and dynamically generated for the transmission of each signal pixel value. In addition, the proposed physically-secured free-space optical data transmission scheme is robust to noise and scattering, and high-fidelity signals are retrieved at the receiving end. The proposed method could open up a new research perspective for the secured free-space optical data transmission.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8186-8198
Number of pages13
JournalOptics Express
Volume30
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Feb 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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