Image encryption scheme based on alternate quantum walks and discrete cosine transform.

As an important information medium, the digital image exists widely on the Internet. Quantum walks have the property of encrypting information. For the eneryption problem of optical digital images, an encryption scheme based on discrete cosine transform (DCT) and alternate quantum walks (AQW) is proposed in this paper. First, we use AQW and XOR operation to preprocess images in the spatial domain. Then, AQW are used to generate two random phase masks which can operate the preprocessed image and the DCT image, respectively. Finally, the encrypted image is obtained by using discrete cosine inverse exchange. The control parameters of AQW can replace the random phase mask as the key in the encryption and decryption process, so it is convenient for key management and transmission. The experimental simulation carried out the analysis of the image pixel histogram, the correlation of adjacent pixels, the robustness against noise and the sensitivity of secret keys, the results show that the image encryption method has strong security.