Chaos and its applications to Communication Systems

A Chaotic signal is a seemingly random signal produced by purely deterministic means. The Chaotic signal is sensitive to initial conditions such as rounding off in computation. These two characteristics of a chaotic signal make it suitable for the attributes of "Security" and "Secrecy" in the arena of Communications. This research work explores the role played by Chaos in Communications. One primary objective of this work is to facilitate extremely secure digital communication using chaotic shift keying in existing frequency-hop spread spectrum systems. In this work a way to secure optical communication is also demonstrated. As it is well known, Chaos as a tool for information security is gaining wide acceptance these days. This reach is owing to its inherent simplicity and ability to secure a communication link from the physical layer as compared to other application layer specific as well as software based encryption methods which are used predominantly. In summary, chaotic systems are found to provide secrecy and security to the data while transmitting them in all the applications that have been tried out. Hence, one can infer that Chaotic Communications have come here to stay.