Interferometric generation of random binary keys for secure optical communication

James H. Menders; Cornelius Diamond; Edward Miles

doi:10.1117/12.449338

13 November 2001 Interferometric generation of random binary keys for secure optical communication

James H. Menders, Cornelius Diamond, Edward Miles

Proceedings Volume 4471, Algorithms and Systems for Optical Information Processing V; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.449338
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2001, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

We have developed an optical key distribution scheme where communicators are able to generate identical binary keys from a wideband optical phase-noise-bearing lightwave. In our scheme, a phase-noise-bearing lightwave is distributed among the communicators via optical fiber, and then converted an intensity modulation by an unequal path length interferometer and converted to a binary stream by a comparator. The use of a broadband noisewave (>100GHz, ~0.8nm at 1550 nm), precludes the possibility of an eavesdropper recording the signal in enough detail to analyze the noise in conjunction with the encrypted data processing. Corresponding intensity modulations are produced if both interferometers have the same pathlength inequality to within a certain tolerance. We have demonstrated identical key generation by two independent terminals receiving a distributed optical noisewave for bit positions designated with a good validity bit. A separate Ethernet link between the terminals was used to assess the quality of the binary key generation. The system uses three WDM optical channels to transmit the noisewave at 1550 nm, data at 1310 and a probe signal for interferometer stabilization at 1530nm.

Citation Download Citation

James H. Menders, Cornelius Diamond, and Edward Miles "Interferometric generation of random binary keys for secure optical communication", Proc. SPIE 4471, Algorithms and Systems for Optical Information Processing V, (13 November 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.449338

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