Strong PUFs from arrays of resonant tunnelling diodes

TL;DR

This paper presents a strong physical unclonable function (PUF) based on an array of resonant tunnelling diodes, demonstrating scalable, unique, and repeatable responses suitable for secure applications.

Contribution

The work introduces a novel strong PUF design using resonant tunnelling diodes, showing exponential scalability and promising response distinctness with a small device set.

Findings

256 responses from 16 devices with high distinctness

Responses exhibit good repeatability over multiple measurements

System scalability increases exponentially with device number

Abstract

In this work, we design and implement a strong physical uncloneable function from an array of individual resonant tunnelling diodes that were previously described to have a unique response when challenged. The system demonstrates the exponential scalability of its responses when compared to the number of devices present in the system, with an expected large set of responses while retaining a 1:1 relationship with challenges. Using a relatively small set of 16 devices, 256 responses are shown to have promising levels of distinctness and repeatability through multiple measurements.