Authenticatable mark, systems for preparing and authenticating the mark

A system for authenticating a mark comprising a plurality of taggants, the system comprising:

• at least one energy source providing energy at at least one wavelength that stimulates the taggants to emit radiation with an intensity versus wavelength distribution;
• a plurality of filters tuned to a plurality of pre-defined, different wavelengths, wherein the plurality of filters simultaneously filters the radiation emitted by the taggants, and produces a plurality of filtered signals, wherein each of the filtered signals conveys an emitted intensity at one of the plurality of pre-defined, different wavelengths;
• a plurality of detectors configured to receive the plurality of filtered signals, and to produce at least one output signal that conveys intensities of the radiation at the plurality of pre-defined, different wavelengths;
• a device including a program that performs a multivariate statistical analysis of the at least one output signal to provide a measurement statistic that enables a determination of authenticity of the mark based on the measurement statistic and at least one predetermined statistical confidence limit, wherein authenticity is designated to be within the limit, and an outlier outside the limit is designated as a counterfeit;
• and
• an output device that notifies a user of the authenticity.

A method for authentication of a mark comprising a plurality of taggants, the method comprising:

• providing energy at at least one wavelength to stimulate the taggants to emit radiation with an intensity versus wavelength distribution;
• measuring an emitted intensity versus wavelength distribution corresponding to the radiation emitted by the taggants using a device that separates the radiation into a plurality of pre-defined, different wavelengths;
• providing at least one output signal corresponding to the emitted intensity versus wavelength distribution, wherein the at least one output signal conveys intensities of the radiation at the plurality of pre-defined, different wavelengths;
• and
• executing a program on a device that performs a multivariate statistical analysis of the at least one output signal to provide a measurement statistic that enables a determination of authenticity of the mark based on the measurement statistic and at least one predetermined statistical confidence limit, wherein authenticity is designated to be within the limit, and an outlier outside the limit is designated as a counterfeit.