Chaos-based image encryption using vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers

Abstract We study the encryption and decryption processes of color images using the synchronization of polarization dynamics in a free-running vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL). Here, we consider a bidirectional master-slave configuration or two-way coupling with two VCSELs. The latter are shown to exhibit hyperchaos and synchronization with a high level of similarity between their emission characteristics. The coupled VCSELs are then used as a transmitter and a receiver for the communication of image or data. Furthermore, we propose a modified chaos-based image encryption algorithm using the pixel- and bit-level permutations which provides robust, faster and simpler encryption/decryption compared to many other chaos-based cryptosystems. The performances of the new cryptosystem are analyzed and compared with a recently developed scheme [Opt. Laser Eng. 90 (2017) 238–246]. The security analysis and some statistical investigations show that the proposed cryptosystem is resistant to various types of attacks and is efficient for secure communications in nonlinear optical media.