Message encoding and decoding using an asynchronous chaotic laser diode transmitter-receiver array

Area of Science:

• Secure Communications
• Nonlinear Dynamics
• Optoelectronics

Background:

• Chaotic laser diodes offer potential for secure communication systems.
• Existing schemes can be vulnerable to parameter mismatches, channel noise, and eavesdropping via chaos synchronization.
• Developing robust and secure communication methods is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To numerically investigate a chaotic laser diode transmitter-receiver array scheme (CLDTRAS) for secure digital communication.
• To analyze the impact of parameter mismatches, channel noise, and chaos synchronization on bit error rate (BER).
• To explore methods for enhancing the security and robustness of the CLDTRAS.

Main Methods:

• Numerical investigation of a CLDTRAS using two types of self-pulsating laser diodes (LDs).
• Analysis of bit error rate (BER) dependence on parameter mismatches, channel noise, and correlation coefficient.
• Evaluation of BER variations with threshold settings and the number of LD transmitters-receivers.

Main Results:

• High sensitivity to parameter mismatches and channel noise was observed, hindering communication.
• Chaos synchronization between transmitter and receiver LDs facilitates eavesdropping and hardware forgery.
• A highly noise-tolerant and hardware-dependent communication scheme was achieved with asynchronous LDs.
• Proper threshold selection and an increased number of LD transmitters-receivers improved performance.

Conclusions:

• The CLDTRAS, with asynchronous transmitter and receiver LDs, offers enhanced noise tolerance and hardware dependency.
• Communication without chaos synchronization significantly reduces the risk of hardware forgery and eavesdropping, even if the key is compromised.
• This approach presents a more secure and robust method for digital communication using chaotic laser diodes.