Achieving high-security and massive-capacity optical communications based on orbital angular momentum configured chaotic laser

Secure and high-speed optical communications are of primary focus in information transmission. Although it is widely accepted that chaotic secure communication can provide superior physical layer security, it is challenging to meet the demand for high-speed increasing communication rate. We theoretically propose and experimentally demonstrate a conceptual paradigm for orbital angular momentum (OAM) configured chaotic laser (OAM-CCL) that allows access to high-security and massive-capacity optical communications. Combining 11 OAM modes and an all-optical feedback chaotic laser, we are able to theoretically empower a well-defined optical communication system with a total transmission capacity of 100 Gb/s and a bit error rate below the forward error correction threshold 3.8×10−3. Furthermore, the OAM-CCL-based communication system is robust to 3D misalignment by resorting to appropriate mode spacing and beam waist. Finally, the conceptual paradigm of the OAM-CCL-based communication system is verified. In contrast to existing systems (traditional free-space optical communication or chaotic optical communication), the OAM-CCL-based communication system has three-in-one characteristics of high security, massive capacity, and robustness. The findings demonstrate that this will promote the applicable settings of chaotic laser and provide an alternative promising route to guide high-security and massive-capacity optical communications.