Image encryption using phase-based virtual image and interferometer

In this paper, we propose an improved optical security system using three phase-encoded images and the principle of interference. This optical system based on a Mach-Zehnder interferometer consists of one phase-encoded virtual image to be encrypted and two phase-encoded images, encrypting image and decrypting image, where every pixel in the three images has a phase value of '0' and '$\pi$'. The proposed encryption is performed by the multiplication of an encrypting image and a phase-encoded virtual image which dose not contain any information from the decrypted image. Therefore, even if the unauthorized users steal and analyze the encrypted image, they cannot reconstruct the required image. This virtual image protects the original image from counterfeiting and unauthorized access.. The decryption of the original image is simply performed by interfering between a reference wave and a direct pixel-to-pixel mapping image of the encrypted image with a decrypting image. Both computer simulations and optical experiments confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed optical technique for optical security applications.