Information security is very important in many application areas in the field of information technology. Recently, a number of optical encryption methods have been proposed for the purpose of information hiding and data security, because optical information processing techniques have obvious advantages such as high degrees of freedom ( e.g. amplitude, phase, polarization, wavelength) for encryption and decryption, and high-level data security. However, the limitations of current optical encryption methods relate to the complexity of their optical hardware, the requirements of the information type, lack of flexibility, and the lack of compact and low-cost optoelectronics devices and systems. These problems make it difficult to move optical encryption out of the research lab and into rea...[ Read more ]

Information security is very important in many application areas in the field of information technology. Recently, a number of optical encryption methods have been proposed for the purpose of information hiding and data security, because optical information processing techniques have obvious advantages such as high degrees of freedom ( e.g. amplitude, phase, polarization, wavelength) for encryption and decryption, and high-level data security. However, the limitations of current optical encryption methods relate to the complexity of their optical hardware, the requirements of the information type, lack of flexibility, and the lack of compact and low-cost optoelectronics devices and systems. These problems make it difficult to move optical encryption out of the research lab and into real world application areas.

In this thesis, a novel parameterized multidimensional data encryption method based on the concept of "virtual optics" is proposed. A strong motivation for the research in this thesis is to overcome the abovementioned problems currently existing in optical encryption and to retain most of the favorable features of optical encryption. The phrase "virtual optics" means that both the optical encryption and decryption processes are implemented in an all-digital manner, adopting optical information processing technologies such as optical holography, optical diffraction or other relevant optical processes. In addition to utilizing some geometric and physical parameters derived from a configuration of digital optics, some information disarrangement actions have also been suggested as tools for designing multiple locks and keys for data encryption in hyperspace. The sensitivities of these supposed keys are quantitatively analyzed and the possible security level of the proposed cryptosystem is assessed. Security of the cryptosystem is also analyzed by examining some possible attacks on the cryptosystem from the viewpoint of a cryptanalysis.

This thesis has shown the possibility or feasibility of using virtual optics for data encryption. From the viewpoint of conventional cryptography, virtual-optics based data encryption and decryption would be a new methodology in this field. Furthermore, the new numerical reconstruction algorithms proposed in this thesis have also made great contributions to digital holography.

Key words: Information security, encryption/decryption, digital optics, diffraction, digital holography.