Transmission of information through the use of quantum-optical effects within a multi-layered birefringent structure
View Patent ↗An optical system uses a multi-layered birefringent structure that receives an input beam that may be non-coherent or coherent, and produces a randomization energy from the input beam, by creating birefringent induced beam subdivisions as the beam passes through each birefringent layer, where after the beam has passed through a threshold number of birefringent layers, a randomized energy distribution is created. That randomized energy distribution is read by a photodetector and converted into a random number by a randomization processing device.
1. An optical system for transmitting information, the optical system comprising:
a birefringent structure configured to receive a beam from a beam source, the birefringent structure comprising a plurality of birefringent layers and a plurality of polarizer elements positioned within the plurality of birefringent layers, wherein each layer has a birefringent axis that is misaligned with a birefringent axis of each previous layer, and
wherein each layer of the birefringent structure is positioned to split the beam as it propagates through the birefringent structure, forming an increasingly bifurcated beam;
a controller coupled to the plurality of polarizer elements and configured to control polarization axes of each of the plurality of polarizer elements to impart an embedded signal on the beam; and
a photodetector positioned to receive the beam exiting the birefringent structure and convert the energy of the beam into an parallel output signal containing the embedded signal.
2. The optical system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a signal processing device coupled to receive the output signal from the photodetector and having one or more processors and one or more memories storing instructions that when executed cause the one or more processors to:
read the output signal from the photodetector; and
detect the embedded signal contained within the output signal.
3. The optical system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more memories store further instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to access the photodetector continuously to continuously collect different parallel output signals.
4. The optical system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more memories store further instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more processors to access the photodetector periodically or in response to a control signal, each access resulting in a different parallel output signal.
5. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein the photodetector is a pixelated photodetector formed of an array of pixels, wherein at least some of the pixels in the array receive the energy of the beam simultaneously to produce parallel pixel output signals that collectively form a parallel output signal.
6. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein each of the polarizer elements are embedded within each of the plurality of layers of the birefringent structure.
7. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein the polarizer elements are electrically controllable, liquid crystal polarizer elements.
8. The optical system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of polarizer elements comprises a plurality of electrically controllable polarizer rotators, the optical system further comprising a processing device electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of electrically controllable polarizer rotators to apply a perturbation signal to a voltage control signal for the at least one of the electrically controllable polarizer rotators, thereby forming a cyclo-stationary signal on top of the energy of the beam.
9. The optical system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of electrically controllable polarizer rotators comprises liquid crystal polarizer rotators.
10. The optical system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of electrically controllable polarizer rotators comprises polarizers or waveplates with an orientation that is adjustable through an electrically controlled mounting stage.
11. A method for transmitting information via an optical system, the method comprising:
receiving, into a birefringent structure comprising a plurality of birefringent layers and a plurality of polarizer elements positioned within the plurality of birefringent layers, wherein each layer has a birefringent axis that is misaligned with a birefringent axis of each previous layer, a beam from a beam source;
subdividing the beam, by passing the beam through the layers of the birefringent structure, such that the beam impending upon the birefringent structure is subdivided into additional beams to collectively form an increasingly bifurcating beam;
controlling, by a controller coupled to the plurality of polarizer elements, polarization axes of each of the plurality of polarizer elements to impart an embedded signal on the beam;
receiving, by a photodetector, energy generated by the beam exiting the birefringent structure; and
producing a parallel output signal from the energy detected at the photodetector, the output signal containing the embedded signal.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
reading, in a processing device, the parallel output signal from the photodetector; and
detecting the embedded signal contained within the output signal.
13. The method of claim 12 , the method further comprising:
accessing the photodetector continuously to continuously collect different parallel output signals.
14. The method of claim 12 , the method further comprising:
accessing the photodetector periodically or in response to a control signal, each access resulting in a different parallel output signal.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the photodetector is a pixelated photodetector formed of an array of pixels, the method further comprising:
simultaneously receiving, by at least some of the pixels in the array, the energy to produce parallel pixel output signals that collectively form the parallel output signal.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein each of the polarizer elements are embedded within each of the plurality of layers of the birefringent structure.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the embedded polarizer elements are electrically controllable, liquid crystal polarizer elements.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of polarizer elements comprises a plurality of electrically controllable polarizer rotators, the method further comprising:
electrically controlling at least one of the polarizer elements to apply a perturbation signal to a voltage control signal for the at least one of the electrically controllable polarizer rotators, thereby forming a cyclo-stationary signal on top of the energy of the beam.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of electrically controllable polarizer rotators comprises liquid crystal polarizer rotators.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of electrically controllable polarizer rotators comprises polarizers or waveplates with an orientation that is adjustable through an electrically controlled mounting stage.