Dual-layer optical encryption fluorescent polymer waveguide chip based on optical pulse-code modulation technique

Nat Commun. 2023 Jul 29;14(1):4578. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-40341-7.

Abstract

Information encryption technique has broad applications in individual privacy, military confidentiality, and national security, but traditional electronic encryption approaches are increasingly unable to satisfy the demands of strong safety and large bandwidth of high-speed data transmission over network. Optical encryption technology could be more flexible and effective in parallel programming and multiple degree-of-freedom data transmitting application. Here, we show a dual-layer optical encryption fluorescent polymer waveguide chip based on optical pulse-code modulation technique. Fluorescent oligomers were doped into epoxy cross-linking SU-8 polymer as a gain medium. Through modifying both the external pumping wavelength and operating frequency of the pulse-code modulation, the sender could ensure the transmission of vital information is secure. If the plaintext transmission is eavesdropped, the external pumping light will be switched, and the receiver will get warning commands of ciphertext information in the standby network. This technique is suitable for high-integration and high-scalability optical information encryption communications.