Encoding digital information using transient chaos

Recent work has demonstrated that symbolic representations of controlled chaotic orbits can be utilized for encoding digital information. So far, this idea has been demonstrated using systems exhibiting sustained chaotic motion on chaotic attractors. The purpose of this work is to explore digital encoding by using transient chaos naturally arising in nonlinear systems. Dynamically, transient chaos is caused by nonattracting chaotic saddles. We argue that there are two major advantages when trajectories on chaotic saddles are exploited as information source: (1) the channel capacity can in general be large, and (2) the influence of channel noise can be reduced. We present a control scheme and also a practical example of encoding a digital message.