Photonic-layer encryption and steganography over IM/DD communication system

• DOI: 10.1364/oe.26.032691
• Publication Date: 2018-11-28T20:22:59Z
• Authors: Eyal Wohlgemuth; Yaron Yoffe; Tomer Yeminy; Zeev Zalevsky; Dan Sadot
• Keywords: SIGNAL (programming language); Modulation (music); Amplified spontaneous emission

We demonstrate a novel low-cost photonic-layer secured communication system that incorporates intensity modulation direct detection (IM/DD) scheme with 4-level pulse amplitude (PAM-4). In the proposed system, signal is buried under an amplifier's spontaneous emission (ASE) noise and coded spectral phase mask. As result, stealthy encrypted in both frequency time domains. analyze reception performance of detection, analytically compare its SNR conventional PAM-4 demonstrating only eligible receiver achieves decryption signal. Furthermore, we experimentally validate these findings showing significant processing gain, which allows error-free reception, despite negative optical-SNR.