Valerio Annovazzi-Lodi

Chaos-based communications at high bit rates using commercial fibre-optic links

Chaotic signals have been proposed as broadband information carriers with the potential of providing a high level of robustness and privacy in data transmission. Laboratory demonstrations of chaos-based optical communications have already shown the potential of this technology, but a field experiment using commercial optical networks has not been undertaken so far. Here we demonstrate high-speed long-distance communication based on chaos synchronization over a commercial fibre-optic channel. An optical carrier wave generated by a chaotic laser is used to encode a message for transmission over 120 km of optical fibre in the metropolitan area network of Athens, Greece. The message is decoded using an appropriate second laser which, by synchronizing with the chaotic carrier, allows for the separation of the carrier and the message. Transmission rates in the gigabit per second range are achieved, with corresponding bit-error rates below 10-7. The system uses matched pairs of semiconductor lasers as chaotic emitters and receivers, and off-the-shelf fibre-optic telecommunication components. Our results show that information can be transmitted at high bit rates using deterministic chaos in a manner that is robust to perturbations and channel disturbances unavoidable under real-world conditions.

Synchronization of chaotic injected-laser systems and its application to optical cryptography

We demonstrate that two chaotic systems, each made by two coupled semiconductor lasers, can be synchronized using direct-optical feedback. The robustness of the proposed synchronization scheme against mismatch of source parameters and difference in starting conditions is tested by numerical simulations. Applications to secure data transmission are proposed, namely chaotic masking and chaotic shift keying (CSK).

Chaos and locking in a semiconductor laser due to external injection

We have analyzed the behavior of a semiconductor laser subjected to increasing external injection. Numerical simulations show the well-known nonlinear modulation and locking regimes, followed by an intermediate chaotic region that precedes definitive locking to the external source at significantly higher injection levels. >

Dynamic behavior and locking of a semiconductor laser subjected to external injection

In this paper, we analyze the phenomena arising when a monomode semiconductor laser is subjected to external injection from another laser. The system stability is investigated as a function of detuning and of the relative injected power. Different regimes, spanning from phase locking to chaos and coherence collapse, are described by analytical and numerical methods for weak and moderate injection. Previous theoretical studies are extended by describing the inverse transition from chaos to stability and by deriving the final locking condition. Also, further investigation on the coherence collapse regime has been performed. Besides contributing to the exploration of an interesting fundamental phenomenon, the results of this analysis are useful for different applications, including coherent detection and chaotic cryptography.

Synchronization of chaotic lasers by optical feedback for cryptographic applications

We propose a new scheme for synchronization of the optical chaos generated by a semiconductor laser subjected to external reflection. The scheme is based on optical feedback and will be analyzed from the viewpoint of static and dynamic properties and of robustness to external perturbations and noise. An application to cryptographic communications (chaotic shift keying) is finally proposed.

Optical Characterization of High-Order 1-D Silicon Photonic Crystals

In this paper, we present numerical and experimental results on the spectral reflectivity of hybrid, high-order (up to 22nd) 1-D silicon photonic crystals (PCs) in the near-infrared region (wavelength range 1- 1.7 mum). Mechanically robust, vertical 1-D PCs with high aspect ratio and spatial period of 8 mum were fabricated by electrochemical micromachining of silicon, and tested in reflection with an improved optical setup, incorporating standard telecommunication single-mode optical fibers and a lensed fiber pigtail. A detailed theoretical, numerical analysis was performed to assess the effects of both non-idealities of the structures under test and constraints of the optical setup, on the spectral reflectivity. Experimental data were found in very good agreement with theoretical calculations, performed by using the characteristic matrix method, keeping into account an in-plane porosity variation for 1-D PCs, due to surface roughness of silicon walls, and the limited resolution bandwidth of the spectrum analyzer. Best optical performances, measured on the fabricated 1-D PC mirrors, consist of optical losses less than 0.8 dB in a bandgap around 1.5 mum and a -35 dB reflectivity minimum at a bandgap edge.

Private Message Transmission by Common Driving of Two Chaotic Lasers

In this paper, we numerically demonstrate private data transmission using twin semiconductor lasers in which chaotic dynamics and synchronization are achieved by optical injection into the laser pair of a common, chaotic driving-signal, generated by a third laser subject to delayed optical feedback. This laser is selected with different parameters with respect to the twin pair, so that the emissions of the synchronized, matched lasers are highly correlated, whereas their correlation with the driver is low. The digital message modulates the emission of the transmitter, as in a standard CM scheme. Message recovery is then obtained by subtracting, from the transmitted chaos-masked message, the chaos, locally generated by the synchronized receiver laser. Simulations have been performed with the Lang-Kobayashi model, keeping into account both laser and photodetector noise. Private transmission has been demonstrated by investigating the effect of the parameter mismatch, between transmitter and receiver, on synchronization and message recovery.

Message Encryption by Phase Modulation of a Chaotic Optical Carrier

We present a numerical and experimental evaluation of message encryption by phase modulation, using a chaotic optical carrier generated by a laser subject to delayed optical feedback. This method offers better security than the conventional amplitude masking, where the signal is simply added to the chaotic waveform

Enhancing Chaotic Communication Performances by Manchester Coding

A numerical analysis of an optical chaotic transmission system, based on the synchronization of two chaotic lasers, in a master-slave closed loop configuration is presented. At the transmitter, the master chaotic wave is superposed on the information message; at the receiver, the message is recovered by subtracting the synchronized slave chaotic wave from the received signal. The performances are analyzed in terms of the Q-factor, considering two different message modulation formats: the nonreturn-to-zero and the Manchester coding. The Manchester coding shows enhanced performances due to the shift of the signal spectrum to higher frequencies.

Secure Chaotic Transmission on a Free-Space Optics Data Link

In this paper, we numerically demonstrate secure data transmission, using synchronized ldquotwinrdquo semiconductor lasers working in the chaotic regime, which represent the transmitter and receiver of a cryptographic scheme, compatible with free-space optics technology for line-of-sight communication links. Chaotic dynamics and synchronization are obtained by current injection into the laser pair of a common, chaotic driving-signal. Results of simulations are reported for the configuration in which the chaotic driving-current is obtained by photodetection of the emission of a third laser (driver), chaotic by delayed optical feedback in a short cavity scheme, selected with different parameters with respect to the laser pair. The emissions of the synchronized, matched lasers are highly correlated, whereas their correlation with the driver is low. The digital message modulates the pumping current of the transmitter. Message recovery is performed by subtracting the chaos, locally generated by the synchronized receiver laser, from the signal obtained by photodetection (at the receiver side) of the chaos-masked message transmitted in free space. Simulations have been performed with the Lang-Kobayashi model, keeping into account both attenuation of the optical signal in a line-of-sight configuration, and noise. Security has been investigated and demonstrated by considering the effect, on synchronization and message recovery, of the parameter mismatch between transmitter and receiver.