About this Research Topic

Background

In today's interconnected world, ensuring the security and integrity of optical communication networks is of paramount importance. Traditional security measures primarily focus on cryptographic techniques and protocols implemented at higher network layers. However, with the increasing sophistication of cyber threats, researchers and practitioners have recognized the critical need for bolstering security at the physical layer.

This Research Topic aims to explore the emerging field of physical layer security, specifically focusing on authentication, identification, and monitoring techniques to enhance communication security. By leveraging the unique characteristics of the physical layer, such as channel properties and optical signal propagation, this research seeks to develop robust and efficient security mechanisms that can protect optical networks from various attacks, including eavesdropping, jamming, and impersonation.

By addressing the critical aspects of physical layer security, authentication, identification, and monitoring, this Research Topic aims to contribute to the development of robust and efficient security mechanisms that can protect optical networks from evolving threats. The findings from this Research Topic can pave the way for the design and implementation of secure optical communication systems, ensuring the privacy and integrity of data transmission in various domains, including telecommunications, Internet of Things (IoT), and critical infrastructure networks.

Therefore, this Research Topic solicits start-of-the-art research outcomes that investigate, model, and propose solutions to enhance optical communication and network security exploiting physical layer technologies and developing innovative protocols.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
• Physical Layer Encryption Techniques for Optical Communications.
• Secure Key Establishment and Management in Optical Communication Systems.
• Physical Layer Authentication and Identification in Optical Networks.
• Physical Layer Monitoring and Intrusion Detection in Optical Communication Systems.
• Covert Communication Techniques in Optical Fiber Networks.
• Secure Transmission of Information through Optical Fiber Channel Modeling.
• Physical Layer Security Enhancement in Optical Communication Systems.
• Optical Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) for Device Authentication.
• Physical Layer Anti-Eavesdropping Techniques in Optical Networks.
• Security Vulnerabilities and Countermeasures in Optical Amplifiers and Repeaters.
• Secure Multi-hop Optical Networks: Challenges and Solutions.
• Secure and Resilient Optical Access Networks for Next-Generation Communication.
• Physical Layer Security for Free-Space Optical Communication Systems.
• Optical Channel Characterization and Security Analysis for Quantum Cryptography.
• Secure Modulation and Coding Schemes for Optical Communications.
• Secure Beamforming Techniques for Optical Wireless Communication Systems.
• Trustworthy Optical Network Infrastructure: Design and Evaluation.
• Secure Optical Sensing and Monitoring Systems for Critical Infrastructure Protection.
• Privacy and Anonymity in Optical Communication Network.

This Research Topics offers a wide range of opportunities to explore the security aspects of optical communication systems at the physical layer. Researchers can investigate various techniques, protocols, and technologies to enhance the security, authentication, identification, and monitoring capabilities of optical networks, ultimately contributing to the development of more secure and resilient communication systems.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: security, 6G, optical communications, optical networks, physical unclonable function (PUF), authentication, identification, monitoring, models, protocols

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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