Time-Domain Physical Unclonable Functions Using Ring Resonators

We introduce time-domain physical unclonable functions (tPUFs) using photonic ring resonator networks, fabricated on a silicon nitride platform. These tPUFs demonstrate complex spectro-temporal behavior, enabling their use in secure, remote authentication schemes. Physical unclonable functions (PUFs) offer an alternative to conventional hash functions by leveraging the intrinsic randomness of physical structures [1], [2]. Optical PUFs have historically been realized using strongly scattering media [3], [4]. We introduce time-domain PUFs (tPUFs) that employ temporal scrambling, allowing for read-out over a single spatial mode. This allows integration into existing infrastructure, such as telecom fibers and satellite links.