We realize a novel, secure communication scheme by exploiting the ultrafast polarization correlation dynamics of unpolarized light and the infinite number of polarization states on the Poincaré sphere within a ghost polarimetry set-up.
There is an increasing and demanding interest in the realization of secure communication schemes. Here, we conceive and realize an approach for a message-encoding scheme between two parties, Alice and Bob, by exploiting the infinite number of polarization states of unpolarized thermal light on the Poincar\'e sphere together with their correlation properties to camouflage and recover a message, thus realizing ghost polarization communication. At first, we investigate the second-order correlation coefficient ${g}^{(2)}(\ensuremath{\tau})$ of classical unpolarized broadband amplified-spontaneous-emission light emitted by an erbium-doped fiber amplifier at 1550 nm by manipulating its instantaneous polarization state utilizing various polarization optics in the beam paths of a Hanbury-Brown and Twiss like ghost polarimetry setup using ultra-fast two-photon absorption in a photomultiplier tube. The observed polarization state modifications are in excellent agreement with our developed model based on the Stokes vector dynamics and a Glauber protocol for ${g}^{(2)}(\ensuremath{\tau})$. On the basis of these results we then proceed towards the realization of a message-encoding scheme. By changing the instantaneous polarization state using a half-wave plate, Alice encodes and subsequently transmits a message. The camouflaged message can be recovered uniquely by Bob measuring the second-order correlations of the modified instantaneous polarization state with his reference beam. By using the agreed keypad of the communication scheme, he is able to retrieve the bit values of the encoded message. Finally, we address real-world implementation of this first proof-of-principle demonstration and discuss its security issues. This scheme demonstrates a method of establishing a secure communication link between two parties directly on the physical layer based on polarization correlations of classical light. It is expected that by the realization of this correlated photon modality not only avenues for ghost modalities, in general, are opened but also insight into polarization, even more than 175 years after Stokes will be achieved.
Ghost metrology is a measurement modality exploiting correlation of photons. Recently, we have demonstrated ghost imaging and ghost spectroscopy by exploiting spatial and spectral photon correlations of amplified spontaneous emission light emitted by optoelectronic superluminescent diodes and erbium-doped fiber amplifiers. Here, we now exploit polarization correlations of so-called unpolarized light. We conceive and realize a novel communication scheme, - Ghost Polarization Communication (GPC) -, between two parties, Alice and Bob, which is based on the ultra-fast correlations of the polarization state of unpolarized classical light emitted by an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) and which provides a measure of security directly on the physical layer. The light emitted by the EDFA is divided in to a reference arm which remains solely on Bob’s side and an object arm which is sent to Alice, who encodes a message onto the unpolarized light via a half-wave plate and sends it back to Bob. By determining the second-order correlation coefficient g(2) on femtosecond timescale and using an agreed encoding table or keypad he uniquely extracts the message which has been camouflaged within the infinite number of polarization states on the Poincaré sphere. The investigated polarization correlation results are modelled within a theoretical approach based on the Stokes vectors dynamics and a Glauber protocol for g(2) and the experimental results are in excellent agreement with this theory. We conclude with a proof-of-principle demonstration of a message transmitted by GPC and discuss real-world implementation and security issues of the proof-of-principle demonstration.
We investigate the polarization properties of unpolarized light, first in the temporal domain realized by 1.55μm ASE light emitted by an erbium-doped fiber amplifier and second in the spatial domain by exploiting the polarization dispersion of a Cornu depolarizer. We find novel Stokes parameter correlations and invariances for temporally unpolarized light and novel states on the Poincaré sphere for spatially unpolarized light. All these results give new fresh insight into the field of classical polarization with interesting promising quantum and sensing application perspectives.