Key technologies in chaotic optical communications

In this paper, the key technologies and research progress of chaotic optical communication are reviewed. We first discuss the chaos generation methods based on different nonlinear components. Then we focus on the frontiers of chaotic optical communications, including how to improve the security, and the development about the transmission capacity and distance of chaotic optical communication in laboratory and field. At last, we discuss limitations and potentials of chaotic optical communications and draw a conclusion.