"Lasers for Secure Communication"

Several solutions for information encryption, anti-counterfeiting, and secure communication have emerged as the world generates more data. Researchers at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) want to contribute by developing a new way to encode information using biological lasers, taking advantage of the sensitivity of enzyme-based reactions. The lasers are generated by shining light through droplets of alginate, a polymer from seaweed, that were sandwiched in a Fabry- Pérot microcavity. The researchers used the enzyme alginate lyase to break down the alginate, causing the droplets to swell and shifting the emitted laser's wavelengths. The scientists could use the lasers to encrypt information revealed only under certain environmental stimuli by controlling the rate of the reaction and size of the droplet. According to assistant professor Chen Yu-Cheng of NTU's Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Biotechnology, combining biology with photonics invites novel applications in secure communication and smart sensing. This article continues to discuss the work on using biological lasers for secure communication. 

Nanyang Technological University reports "Lasers for Secure Communication"