Rapid programmable/code-length-variable, time-domain bit-by-bit code shifting for high-speed secure optical communication

Abstract

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a time-domain bit-by-bit code-shifting scheme that can rapidly program ultralong, code-length variable optical code by using only a dispersive element and a high-speed phase modulator for improving information security. The proposed scheme operates in the bit overlap regime and could eliminate the vulnerability of extracting the code by analyzing the fine structure of the time-domain spectral phase encoded signal. It is also intrinsically immune to eavesdropping via conventional power detection and differential-phase-shift-keying (DPSK) demodulation attacks. With this scheme, 10 Gbits/s of return-to-zero-DPSK data secured by bit-by-bit code shifting using up to 1024 chip optical code patterns have been transmitted over 49 km error free. The proposed scheme exhibits the potential for high-data-rate secure optical communication and to realize even one time pad.