Multilevel Multimodal Physical Unclonable Functions by Laser Writing of Silicon Carbide Color Centers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Information Security
• Quantum Engineering

Background:

• Physical unclonable functions (PUFs) are crucial for information security in digitized environments.
• Current PUF encoding methods are limited by material properties, hindering enhanced encoding capacity (EC).
• Information leakage remains a significant challenge in highly digitized eras.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel four-level encoding scheme for physical unclonable functions (PUFs).
• To enhance the encoding capacity (EC) and security of PUF-based anti-counterfeiting systems.
• To construct a multilevel multimodal PUF (MMPUF) with high EC, low cost, and fast readout.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing stochastic characteristics of free radical chemical reactions and energy deposition in silicon carbide (SiC) color centers.
• Implementing a four-level encoding strategy (ES) based on SiC and silicon vacancy (Vsi) color-center concentrations and laser pyrolysis position offsets.
• Integrating PUF tags via a doping manufacturing process for enhanced security.

Main Results:

• Achieved a high encoding capacity of 2^(4×10×10) through a multilevel multimodal PUF (MMPUF) encoding strategy.
• Demonstrated secure, stable, and unclonable encoding using four independent physical properties.
• Developed a flexible substrate-based PUF with high EC, low cost, and simple/fast readout.

Conclusions:

• The proposed encoding hierarchy offers a novel solution for significantly improving PUF encoding capacity (EC).
• Integration through doping manufacturing enhances the security and practicality of anti-counterfeiting systems.
• The developed MMPUF provides a robust and scalable approach to information security and product authentication.