An optical authentication system based on imaging of excitation-selected lanthanide luminescence.

ABSTRACT: Secure data encryption relies heavily on one-way functions, and copy protection relies on features that are difficult to reproduce. We present an optical authentication system based on lanthanide luminescence from physical one-way functions or physical unclonable functions (PUFs). They cannot be reproduced and thus enable unbreakable encryption. Further, PUFs will prevent counterfeiting if tags with unique PUFs are grafted onto products. We have developed an authentication system that comprises a hardware reader, image analysis, and authentication software and physical keys that we demonstrate as an anticounterfeiting system. The physical keys are PUFs made from random patterns of taggants in polymer films on glass that can be imaged following selected excitation of particular lanthanide(I

SUBMITTER: Carro-Temboury MR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5786441 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature