Harnessing Liquid Crystals-based Techniques for Unleashing 6G Network Security Paradigms

In the realm of wired and wireless telecommunications, the manipulation of electromagnetic wave encompasses the spatial modulation of phase, amplitude, polarization, spectral properties, and more recently, tailoring wavefronts to generate vortex orbital angular momentum (OAM) modes. This work leverages liquid crystals (LCs) based continuously-variable phase shifters and band-stop filters to penetrate the conventional territory of network security in the communication and sensing sectors. From the cryptography parlance, the continuous tuning resolution of LCs enables a surge in the key space (as compared with traditionally digital switching technology, e.g., p-i-n didoes), which is more resistant to cryptanalytic attack (e.g., brute-force attacks). In addition to creating highly directional, secure communication channels, the potential integration with decentralized technologies is first proposed and discussed, representing intersections of material science, microwave engineering, and information security, the insights informing future inventions, targeting broader audiences, including policymakers and industry professionals.