Volume 15, Issue 6

A Secure Multi – Image Optical Encryption Scheme Based on Quasi – Zernike Synthesis, Cascaded Equal Modulus Decomposition, and the Gyrator Transform

Author

Ajay Singh and Nagander Singh Tomer

Abstract

The widespread transmission and storage of digital images over open communication networks have made secure image encryption an essential research topic. Although numerous optical encryption techniques have been reported, many existing methods are constrained by limited key diversity, insufficient resistance to cryptanalytic attacks, and reduced robustness under adverse transmission conditions. This paper proposes a multi – image encryption framework by integrating Quasi – Zernike (QZ) synthesis, the gyrator transform (GT), random phase mask (RPMs), and equal modulus decomposition (EMD). Initially, two plaintext images are fused using QZ synthesis to generate multiple private keys. The synthesized output is then combined with a phase image and encrypted through dual GT operations interleaved with RPM modulation and EMD, producing additional secret keys and a highly randomized ciphertext. The original images are recovered by performing the inverse operations using the corresponding private keys. The effectiveness of the proposed framework is validated through CC, MSE, PSNR, SSIM, information entropy, histogram, pixel correlation, and key sensitivity analyses, together with brute – force, noise and occlusion attack evaluations. Experimental results demonstrate near – lossless image reconstruction, high ciphertext randomness, and strong robustness against statistical and differential attacks. The proposed framework offers a secure and efficient solution for optical multi – image encryption and protected image communication.

Keywords: Multi – image encryption, Gyrator transform, Quasinormal – Zernike algorithm, Equal Modulus Decomposition.

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DOI

https://doi.org/10.62226/ijarst20262724

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