Exclusive-OR Encryption by Photoconduction and Two-Photon Absorption in Carbon Nanotubes

A two-wave photoconductive system dependent on the nonlinear optical absorption in carbon nano-tubes is presented. Optical irradiation at 532 nm wavelength and 1 nanosecond pulse duration was employed for performing the experiments. A vectorial two-wave mixing configuration was used in order to measure the absorptive and refractive nonlinearities. A single-beam transmittance technique was carried out to evaluate the photoconductivity and also it allows us to confirm the participation of the nonlinear optical absorption displayed by the samples. A two-photon absorption effect was identified as the main physical mechanism associated to the third order absorptive nonlinearity. The exclusive disjunctive logic function was achieved by the optoelectronic response of an interferometric configuration. An ultrasonic spray pyrolysis processing route was utilized for the preparation of the samples. The morphology of the nanotubes was estimated by using scanning electronic microscopy. By combining the photoconductive response of two different carbon nanotubes thin film samples, a straightforward XOR encryption was performed.