![]() If secret information is encoded onto a chaotic waveform, any receiving party which holds information about the nature of the chaos will be able to decipher it. In this context, the term describes how time-dependent patterns can appear to be in apparently random states of disorder, but are actually governed by clearly defined physical laws which are heavily dependent on their starting conditions. Sending hidden messages this way takes advantage of the peculiarities of ‘chaos,’ meaning the laser output intensity is unpredictable and irregular in time. “Unlike radio frequencies, there is currently little regulation associated with FSO, so it can offer higher bandwidths.” With far more room available for information to propagate, messages can be sent at significantly higher speeds. “Owing to its fast and cost-effective deployment, FSO has become an increasingly popular technology,” Dr Grillot describes. In addition, these transmissions are not tied down by strict rules on which wavelengths can be transmitted by particular parties. One emerging solution to this issue lies in ‘free-space optics’ (FSO), which operates using freely propagating light waves – but which doesn’t require any pre-existing infrastructure. Since the bandwidths available in optical fibres are strictly limited, they can quickly become saturated, leaving little room for information to propagate. However, these approaches face a number of drawbacks, particularly regarding the limited speeds at which large messages can be sent. ![]() ![]() So far, the most cutting-edge techniques for ensuring this level of security have often involved light waves transmitted through optical fibres, or radio waves sent through the air. In today’s fast-paced landscape of global communication, it is often critically important for many different groups to exchange messages securely, without any risk of eavesdroppers leaking the information they contain. With specific lasers enciphering their information in chaotic patterns, the team’s work could soon help to realise secure, global-scale networks, without the need for fibre optics. In their research, Frédéric Grillot and Olivier Spitz at Télécom Paris have developed sophisticated new techniques to overcome this challenge. However, the encoded information these waves contain can easily be lost due to unpredictable fluctuations in the Earth’s atmosphere. As cheap and accessible tools for transmitting private information, freely propagating light waves are highly desirable for parties operating secure communication networks. ![]()
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