Researchers from Ben-Gurion University have developed an optical communication method that hides information within the physical structure of light, reports Newsru.co.il.

Current data encryption methods are becoming vulnerable as quantum computing advances. But in a new study published in the journal Optical and Quantum Electronics, scientists propose extending security to the physical signal level rather than relying solely on mathematical algorithms.

The researchers used special light pulses called spatiotemporal optical vortices. The information transmitted by these pulses remains invisible to standard measurements, making the signal indistinguishable from the background to an outside observer.

When intercepted by an attacker, the optical stream appears as uniform noise, containing no payload. Only a legitimate recipient, with prior instructions and operating in precise synchronization with the sender, can reconstruct the original message. The parties agree in advance on the location of the real data among the many false signals. This creates a multi-layered security system where information is hidden both physically and logically.

Computer simulations confirmed the system's reliability. The method allows data transmission without changes in beam intensity and remains noise-resistant. Although the technology is still in the theoretical stage and requires real-world testing, it offers significant potential for creating highly secure networks of the future.

Co-author of the paper, Professor Shlomi Arnon, notes the significance of the results: “Our work provides the basis for a new type of physical security in optical communications that could significantly strengthen existing encryption methods.”