Expanded multi-scroll attractor system analysis and application for remote sensing image encryption

Exploring special multi-scroll chaotic systems is meaningful work. This paper studies an expanded multi-scroll chaotic system consisting of eight terms with one nonlinearity. It is generated by modifying the nonlinear term of the newly constructed chaotic system by a polynomial function. The unique mathematical model makes the unstable index-2 equilibria increase in four dimensions, which contributes to the number of scrolls expanding in each phase plane unidirectionally. Dynamic analysis finds that the system can yield complex nested multi-scroll attractors and has single-parameter-based synchronization control of amplitude and offset boosting behavior. Moreover, circuit implementation verifies the physical existence of the proposed system. Also, an image encryption algorithm for remote sensing images is established. Permutation and diffusion operations are performed using new pixel coordinates derived from the data of the chaotic matrix, which comes from the same position as the pixel matrix. Relevant tests suggest that the algorithm is secure and able to resist undesirable interference.