Chaotic time-delay signature suppression using quantum noise

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates both numerically and experimentally that quantum noise can significantly suppress the time-delay signature in chaotic semiconductor lasers, enhancing their security for communication applications.

Contribution

It introduces a novel quantum noise-based method for TDS suppression in chaotic lasers, combining theoretical modeling with experimental validation.

Findings

TDS suppressed up to 94% using quantum noise

Quantum noise bandwidth is 1:25 of the chaotic laser

Experiment aligns well with numerical simulations

Abstract

Time-delay signature (TDS) suppression of semiconductor lasers with external optical feedback is necessary to ensure the security of chaos-based secure communications. Here we numerically and experimentally demonstrate a technique to effectively suppress the TDS of chaotic lasers using quantum noise. The TDS and dynamical complexity are quantified using the autocorrelation function and normalized permutation entropy at the feedback delay time, respectively. Quantum noise from quadrature fluctuations of vacuum state is prepared through balanced homodyne measurement. The effects of strength and bandwidth of quantum noise on chaotic TDS suppression and complexity enhancement are investigated numerically and experimentally. Compared to the original dynamics, the TDS of this quantum-noise improved chaos is suppressed up to 94% and the bandwidth suppression ratio of quantum noise to chaotic laser is 1:25. The experiment agrees well with the theory. The improved chaotic laser is potentially beneficial to chaos-based random number generation and secure communication.