Time-domain physical unclonable key (tpuk) authenticated communication

A method for a PUK authenticated communication, the method comprising:

• creating an optical challenge in a time-frequency domain;
• providing the optical challenge to a tPUK which comprises a spatial input channel and a plurality of spatial output channels, the tPUK being configured to provide a complex challenge-response behavior in the time-frequency domain, wherein the optical challenge is created so that the tPUK creates a response having a short temporally focused pulse in only one of the plurality of spatial output channels of the tPUK;
• and
• detecting in which of the plurality of spatial output channels the short temporally focused pulse is created.

A method for a PUK authenticated communication, the method comprising:

• creating an optical challenge in a time-frequency domain;
• providing the optical challenge to a tPUK comprising a spatial input channel and a spatial output channel, the tPUK being configured to provide a complex challenge-response behavior in the time-frequency domain, wherein the optical challenge is created so that the tPUK creates a response having a short temporally focused pulse in the spatial output channel;
• and
• detecting if the short temporally focused pulse is created in the spatial output channel.

A system for a PUK authenticated communication, the system comprising:

• a challenge creating means which is configured to create an optical challenge in a time-frequency domain;
• a tPUK comprising,
• a spatial input channel,
• a plurality of spatial output channels, and
• a complex challenge-response behavior in the time frequency domain,
• wherein the challenge creating means is configured to create the optical challenge so that a short temporally focused pulse is created in a response in only one of the plurality of spatial output channels;
• and
• a detection device which is configured to detect in which of the plurality of spatial output channels the short temporally focused pulse is created.

A system for a PUK authenticated communication, the system comprising:

• a challenge creating means which is configured to create an optical challenge in a time-frequency domain;
• a tPUK comprising,
• a spatial input channel,
• a spatial output channel, and
• a complex challenge-response behavior in the time-frequency domain,
• wherein the challenge creating means is configured to create the optical challenge so that a short temporally focused pulse is created in the response in the spatial output channel;
• and
• a detection device which is configured to detect if the short temporally focused pulse is created in the output channel.