Massive-channel chaos synchronization in microcombs induced by a common single-wavelength chaotic light

Parallel massive-channel chaos synchronization is the key to achieving high-capacity physical-layer encrypted communication. Here, we numerically reveal a unique phenomenon that massive-channel chaos synchronization can be achieved by using micro-ring resonators (MRRs) commonly driven by a single-wavelength chaotic light due to the cascaded four-wave mixing effect. Chaos synchronization in more than 80 channels with low intermodal correlations is predicated for MRRs with a 200 GHz free spectral range. Compared to multi-longitudinal-mode semiconductor lasers, MRRs’ chaos synchronization has a much larger number of channels, and it no longer requires wide-spectrum or multi-wavelength driving. Furthermore, the driving-response correlation of MRRs can be below 0.1, which is greatly lower than that of lasers. The above advantages are of great significance for applications in key distribution. The single-wavelength driving light can significantly reduce the occupation of the transmission channel and allow MRR modes with different wavelengths to be used as privacy parameters to enhance security. The low driving-response correlation greatly reduces the information leakage from the transmission of driving light. It is, therefore, believed that chaos synchronization of MRRs can promote more secure and larger capacity physical-layer key distribution.