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Optics Express

Multi-object parallel optical encryption for single-pixel imaging security

Guohang Wu, Chongyang Zhang, Hongran Zeng, Seoktae Kim, Xiaowei Li

Published Jul 24, 2025• 4 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Multi-object optical encryption has emerged as a promising field for enhancing encryption performance and reducing communication overhead, which can ensure the security of single-pixel imaging. However, it faces some critical challenges like low efficiency, reliance on complex system design, high hardware costs, and the difficulty of parallel encryption with independent decryption, hindering practical deployment. In this work, an illumination pattern construction algorithm is proposed to generate projected basis patterns for parallel optical encryption, while a decoupling algorithm is developed to demodulate coupled measurements to recover Hadamard spectrum for each object. Independent decryption is then performed using a random-order Hadamard matrix assigned to each object. The proposed method achieves multi-object parallel encryption and independent decryption using a lightweight optical system, with improved efficiency, lower hardware costs, and smaller ciphertext size compared to conventional methods. In addition, it also exhibits robustness against both cropping and noise attacks. These results indicate potential for practical applications and may contribute to future developments in multi-object optical encryption for single-pixel imaging security.

DOI
10.1364/oe.572099

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Multi-object optical encryption has emerged as a promising field for enhancing encryption performance and reducing communication overhead, which can ensure the security of single-pixel imaging. However, it faces some critical challenges like low efficiency, reliance on complex system design, high hardware costs, and the difficulty of parallel encryption with independent decryption, hindering practical deployment. In this work, an illumination pattern construction algorithm is proposed to generate projected basis patterns for parallel optical encryption, while a decoupling algorithm is developed to demodulate coupled measurements to recover Hadamard spectrum for each object. Independent decryption is then performed using a random-order Hadamard matrix assigned to each object. The proposed method achieves multi-object parallel encryption and independent decryption using a lightweight optical system, with improved efficiency, lower hardware costs, and smaller ciphertext size compared to conventional methods. In addition, it also exhibits robustness against both cropping and noise attacks. These results indicate potential for practical applications and may contribute to future developments in multi-object optical encryption for single-pixel imaging security.
Data proliferation in the digital age necessitates robust encryption techniques to protect information privacy. Optical encryption leverages the multiple degrees of freedom inherent in light waves to encode information with parallel processing and enhanced security features. However, implementations of large-scale, high-security optical encryption have largely remained theoretical or limited to digital simulations due to hardware constraints, signal-to-noise ratio challenges, and precision fabrication of encoding elements. Here, we present an optical encryption platform utilizing scattering multiplexing ptychography, simultaneously enhancing security and throughput. Unlike optical encoders which rely on computer-generated randomness, our approach leverages the inherent complexity of light scattering as a natural unclonable function. This enables multi-dimensional encoding with superior randomness. Furthermore, the ptychographic configuration expands encryption throughput beyond hardware limitations through spatial multiplexing of different scatterer regions. We propose a hybrid decryption algorithm integrating model- and data-driven strategies, ensuring robust decryption against various sources of measurement noise and communication interference. We achieved optical encryption at a scale of ten-megapixel pixels with 1.23 µm resolution. Communication experiments validate the resilience of our decryption algorithm, yielding high-fidelity results even under extreme transmission conditions characterized by a 20% bit error rate. Our encryption platform offers a holistic solution for large-scale, high-security, and cost-effective cryptography.
Single-pixel imaging (SPI) can transform 2D or 3D image data into 1D light signals, which offers promising prospects for image compression and transmission. However, during data communication these light signals in public channels will easily draw the attention of eavesdroppers. Here, we introduce an efficient encryption method for SPI data transmission that uses the 3D Arnold transformation to directly disrupt 1D single-pixel light signals and utilizes the elliptic curve encryption algorithm for key transmission. This encryption scheme immediately employs Hadamard patterns to illuminate the scene and then utilizes the 3D Arnold transformation to permutate the 1D light signal of single-pixel detection. Then the transformation parameters serve as the secret key, while the security of key exchange is guaranteed by an elliptic curve-based key exchange mechanism. Compared with existing encryption schemes, both computer simulations and optical experiments have been conducted to demonstrate that the proposed technique not only enhances the security of encryption but also eliminates the need for complicated pattern scrambling rules. Additionally, this approach solves the problem of secure key transmission, thus ensuring the security of information and the quality of the decrypted images.
An optical image encryption technique based on compressive sensing using fully optical means has been proposed. An object image is first encrypted to a white-sense stationary noise pattern using a double random phase encoding (DRPE) method in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Then, the encrypted image is highly compressed to a signal using single-pixel compressive holographic imaging in the optical domain. At the receiving terminal, the encrypted image is reconstructed well via compressive sensing theory, and the original image can be decrypted with three reconstructed holograms and the correct keys. The numerical simulations show that the method is effective and suitable for optical image security transmission in future all-optical networks because of the ability of completely optical implementation and substantially smaller hologram data volume.
Abstract Optical encryption is an emerging technique that uses optical systems to securely encode and decode information for data transmission. In this study, we present an integrated optical encryption platform that consists of a scattering-augmented ptychographic encryption system, a transmission-efficient compressive sampling strategy, and a high-capacity decryption algorithm based on a hybrid model-data driven approach. Our encryption system leverages random light scattering as a physical unclonable function, enabling the encoding of complex object wavefronts with high optical throughput. In contrast to traditional encoders that offer insecure pseudo-randomness, the light scattering process ensures true randomness in the reported platform. To optimize transmission efficiency, we implement a compressive sampling strategy that reduces data transmission volume by at least one order of magnitude. Moreover, we devise a decryption algorithm that merges model-driven optimization with data-driven deep learning, effectively addressing the highly underdetermined retrieval task and providing robust decryption against various measurement noise and communication interference. The efficacy of our system is corroborated by an integrated optical prototype capable of encrypting ten million of pixels within minutes. Communication experiments confirm the resilience of our decryption algorithm, which retrieves high-fidelity results even under extreme transmission conditions characterized by a 20% bit error rate. Our innovative encryption technique presents a comprehensive solution for high-capacity data transmission, fortified by scattering-augmented security.
An optical encryption (OE) scheme based on the spread spectrum ghost imaging (SSGI), named as SSGI-OE, is proposed to obtain a high security with a smaller key. In the scheme, the randomly selected row number of a Hadamard matrix of order N is used as the secure key, and shared with the authorized user, Bob, through a private channel. Each corresponding row vector of the order-N Hadamard matrix is then used as the direct sequence code to modulate a speckle pattern for the ghost imaging system, and an image is encrypted with the help of the SSGI. The measurement results from the bucket detector, named as ciphertext, are then transmitted to Bob through a public channel. The illuminating speckle patterns are also shared with Bob by the public channel. With the correct secure key, Bob could reconstruct the image with the aid of the SSGI system, whereas the unauthorized user, Eve, could not obtain any useful information of the encrypted image. The numerical simulations and experimental results show that the proposed scheme is feasible with a higher security and a smaller key. For the 32 × 32 pixels image, the number of bits sent from Alice to Bob by using SSGI-OE (M = 1024, N = 2048) scheme is only 0.0107 times over a computational ghost imaging optical encryption scheme. When the eavesdropping ratio (ER) is less than 40%, the eavesdropper cannot acquire any information of the encrypted image. The extreme circumstance for the proposed SSGI-OE scheme is also discussed, where the eavesdropper begins to extract the information when ER is up to 15%.
The secure transmission of image information is an essential issue in communication, but it is also important in situations where the transmission channel resources are limited, such as quantum transmission. We propose a multi-layer single-pixel imaging end-to-end optical encryption framework with the characteristic advantage of a small key storage space requirement. Compared with previous single-layer encryption methods, the proposed approach greatly expands the key space and enhances the difficulty of brute-force cracking. The framework encrypts the image when the imaging signal is measured, which avoids the risk of leaking the plaintext information in processing. Numerical simulations and experiments verify the feasibility and robustness of this method. The proposed method can encrypt images end-to-end in both spatial and frequency domains, offering a new framework for robust, affordable, and secure optical image encryption.