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Physical Unclonable Function – is a physical feature embodied on an object that makes it practically impossible to duplicate, even given the exact manufacturing process.
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Background: Device identification and hardware security have become critical issues in today’s world with the rapid development in technology. Threats such as device cloning, counterfeiting, hardware tampering and theft of service have made secure identification of products a crucial issue for many industrial sectors. In order to combat these threats, it is necessary to develop schemes for device authentication. The emerging technology of Physically Unclonable Functions (PUFs) provides an innovative solution for these issues. Physical Unclonable Function – is a physical feature embodied on an object that makes it practically impossible to duplicate, even given the exact manufacturing process that produced it. NYU’s TMD - Based Function: Researchers at New York University have now developed a new Transition Metal Dichalcogenide (TMD)- based optical PUF which provides an innovative solution to combat the above threats. It incorporates the unique properties of TMD’s and advantages of Optical PUF based solution, that can withstand more sophisticated and adverse attacks than in previous designs. An optical PUF consists of a transparent material, which on exposure to light or laser beam produces a random and unique speckle pattern which is very complex in nature. Therefore, it is very hard to duplicate the optical PUF such that the same speckle pattern will arise on cloning. NYU’s research team have also come up with a new technique of post processing steps to heterogeneously integrate Mos2(TMD) PUF on CMOS ASIC. The new family of optical PUFs holds the distinct features of TMD’s like layered structure, allowing tight layer-by-layer control of thickness and stochastic nature of nucleation in CVD growth that is stable in air ambient and scalable to large dimensions. Applications and Features: Device Authentication and intellectual property protection. PUF based RFID for Anti-counterfeiting (unclonable tags). Minute size allowing TMD-UF’s to be incorporated into fabrics. Cryptographic key generation and storage. Preventing counterfeiting of chips manufactured in foreign boundaries. Supply chain security.