Multiple-image encryption based on interference principle and phase-only mask multiplexing in Fresnel transform...

Area of Science:

• Optics and Photonics
• Information Security
• Image Processing

Background:

• Traditional optical encryption methods face challenges like the silhouette problem and crosstalk.
• Phase-only masks (POMs) offer a promising avenue for advanced optical encryption techniques.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a novel multiple-image encryption method leveraging optical interference and POM multiplexing.
• To address and resolve limitations of previous interference-based encryption approaches.

Main Methods:

• Encoding secret images into analytically obtained and random phase-only masks (POMs).
• Synthesizing POMs from different images using POM multiplexing.
• Encoding synthesized POMs into complex ciphertext images without iterative computations.

Main Results:

• Successfully resolved the silhouette problem inherent in earlier methods.
• Achieved decryption through both digital and optical means.
• Demonstrated the absence of crosstalk between decrypted secret images.

Conclusions:

• The proposed method offers a robust and efficient solution for multiple-image encryption.
• The technique is verified for performance and feasibility via numerical simulations.
• Information compression's impact on decrypted image quality is discussed.