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Optical Fiber Communication Conference

Photonic Layer Encryption in High Speed Optical Communications

Dan Sadot, Eyal Wohlgemuth, Ido Attia, Ohad Balasiano, Isaak Jonas, Elimelech Keller, Hamutal Shalom

Published Jan 1, 2024• 1 citation
Publisher

Abstract

Combining multi-THz optical spectrum spreading, photonic phase encoding, and negative optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) transmission, forms photonic shield that prevents data recording for offline deciphering. This supports post-quantum security by eliminating raw data availability for quantum computers processing.
DOI
10.1364/ofc.2024.m4f.1

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The capability to form a photonic shield by using a unique all-optical transmission scheme incorporating multi-THz coherent spreading, spectral phase encoding (SPE), and negative optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) completely prevents offline deciphering of captured data-in-transit. This photonic shield scheme provides an ultimate solution to the “harvest-now, decrypt later” threat by eliminating unauthorised recording. Thus, no raw data is available for any post-processing, including by quantum computers. Both the full line rate payload and the asymmetric key exchange, are transmitted through the secured channel. This work presents an industry-level demonstration, including real-time client data transmission and seamlessly continuously changing spectral phase encoding (SPE) photonic keys. A 100 Gbps DP-QPSK signal and a 200 Gbps DP-16QAM link are established over 80 km of standard single mode fiber (SSMF).
We describe an emerging method of encryption suitable for high-speed optical communication networks. This encryption protocol combines traditional electronic cryptographic algorithms with the physical effect of optical noise of quantum origin to create a highly secure method of secret communications. The resulting optical signal is compatible with today's high speed fiber optic infrastructure including optical amplification and add/drop multiplexing. Systems implementing this protocol can be constructed with common commercially available components. We describe experimental results obtained with a 2.5 Gb/s system. The encrypted signal is shown to travel error-free through >500 km of optical fiber. Simulations show that reaches and data rates consistent with modern long haul optical networks are attainable.
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Photonic layer security is demonstrated over 200 km of a loaded dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) network. The secure channel achieves 100 Gbps throughput with photonic-encrypted coherent transmission and continuously updating photonic keys. The signal is effectively concealed under optical noise, harvest-proof, and lacks offline decryption capabilities, ensuring post-quantum resilience. Additionally, successful coexistence with seven conventional coherent channels, both in-band and out-of-band, is demonstrated in a real-world scenario.
The concept of “harvest now, decipher later” presents a major data security concern in light of thriving quantum computing, rendering traditional public-key cryptography ineffective and undermining even state-of-the-art symmetric block ciphers. Physical layer security (PLS) offers advantages such as enhancing the security of the entire OSI model, including its metadata, with minimal latency and providing robust protection against data harvesting. Multi-THz, high repetition rate mode-locked laser sources have enabled the development of PLS techniques that leverage coherent optical spreading and despreading, phase mask encoding, and under-the-noise transmission. Since capturing multi-THz E-fields is impractical, real-time all-optical decoding is necessary, as offline post-processing yields permanently poor performance (indicated by a negative SNR) for unauthorized detection. This paper reports the demonstrations of PLS transmission of 30 G and 60G Bauds, using QPSK and 16-QAM modulation schemes, achieved over distances of up to 100 km, with a real-time DSP ASIC. These achievements pave the way for high-bandwidth point-to-point harvest-immune optical connectivity.Introduction