Optomechanical resonators in chaotic regime for cryptography in optical datacoms

The aim of the post doc is to explore the use of optomechanical resonators placed in a chaotic regime to secure optical communications. It is part of a project from the CEA's research-at-risk program, selected in July 2024. A key point is to obtain a highly non-linear regime, favored by specific geometries, necessary for the richness of chaos. Exploiting the unique properties of chaos for secure data transfer will be explored by the postdoc as part of a working group. With the advent of the quantum computer, current techniques for securing information exchange become largely compromised, necessitating the development of post-quantum cryptography techniques. Beyond software approaches, new hardware concepts have emerged, such as chaotic cryptography. In this context, it is becoming essential to develop chaos sources that are high-quality (richness of parameter space), compatible with existing communication systems and compact. While lasers are a well-known source of chaos, optomechanical systems seem particularly well suited to this application, as the mechanical domain provides an enriched parameter space, while retaining high data throughput and a direct connection with optical communications systems. The postdoc will explore the suitability of chaotic optomechanical devices for implementing hardware cryptography.