Encryption of digital hologram based on phase-shifting interferometry and virtual optics

A new information encryption system is presented, based on phase-shifting interferometry and virtual optics. Three-step phase-shifting interferometry is used to record a digital hologram of the input data and a virtual optical system based on the scaled optical fractional Fourier transform is used for encryption of the recorded digital hologram. In the virtual optical system, the digital hologram to be encrypted is fractional Fourier transformed two times, and a random phase mask is placed at the output plane of the first fractional Fourier transform. Both the encryption and decryption processes are performed digitally. The encrypted data and the keys for decryption can be stored and transmitted in a conventional communication channel. Numerical simulations are presented to verify validity and efficiency.