About the project
This project explores new cryptographic protocols for metasurface-enabled photonic circuits, addressing vulnerabilities exposed by quantum computing. By integrating quantum random number generators, authentication methods, and formal verification, the research will deliver quantum-resilient optical communication frameworks, advancing secure photonic networking for defense, government, and commercial applications in the era of quantum technologies.
Emerging quantum technologies threaten the foundations of classical encryption, raising urgent challenges for secure communication. To safeguard future data exchange, security must evolve alongside new hardware. Metasurface-enabled photonic integrated circuits offer unique opportunities: their ability to manipulate light at the nanoscale supports ultra-fast, energy-efficient, and inherently secure data transmission.
This project will design and validate security protocols tailored specifically to photonic platforms, rather than adapting electronic cryptography. The research will focus on three key objectives:
- develop cryptographic protocols optimized for metasurface-enhanced photonic circuits, ensuring compatibility with their distinct physical properties
- incorporate quantum random number generators (QRNGs) to provide true randomness, an essential component for long-term cryptographic strength
- apply rigorous security verification, including formal analysis and threat modeling, to test resilience against both classical and quantum-enabled attacks
Practical implementation will include protocol prototyping, simulation of secure photonic networks, and performance evaluation in latency, throughput, and resilience. Verification of QRNG entropy and robustness will further underpin the project’s contributions. The anticipated impact is twofold:
- scientifically, advancing quantum-safe cryptography grounded in photonics
- practically, delivering scalable, industry-relevant frameworks for next-generation optical communication
Applications extend across defence, enterprise security, and high-speed global networks, ensuring trust in digital infrastructures threatened by quantum adversaries. By bridging nanophotonics, cryptography, and verification, this interdisciplinary research will set the stage for secure photonic networking technologies ready for industrial adoption in the quantum era.
The School of Electronics and Computer Science is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.
