https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-025-06853-5
Regular Article
A mixed coupled map lattice based on enhanced Chebyshev maps for chaotic image encryption
1
School of Mathematics and Computational Science, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, 541002, Guilin, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
2
School of Mathematics and Computing Science, Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Data Analysis and Computation, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, 541002, Guilin, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China
3
Center for Applied Mathematics of Guangxi (GUET), 541002, Guilin, People’s Republic of China
Received:
10
August
2025
Accepted:
11
September
2025
Published online:
29
September
2025
This study proposes an enhanced Chebyshev map (ECM) and an enhanced sin-type Chebyshev map (ESCM) with simplified structure and near-surjective parameter space. The ECM and ESCM form the foundation for an improved mixed coupled map lattice (IMCML) system. Through systematic theoretical analysis and numerical validation, the IMCML system exhibits significantly expanded parameter domains, demonstrating a 78% wider chaotic regime than conventional MCML. Furthermore, it shows enhanced chaotic characteristics compared to non-enhanced MCML and standard CML systems, including a 400% increase in maximum Lyapunov exponent and complete elimination of period and weak chaos phenomena. Building upon these advancements, we propose a novel image encryption scheme that implements efficient diffusion-confusion mechanisms through pseudo-random matrices generated by IMCML, incorporating dynamic pixel substitution and adaptive block rotation operations. Comprehensive cryptanalysis demonstrates the scheme’s superior resistance to differential attacks (NPCR = 99.6%), statistical attacks (information entropy 7.9988), and chosen-plaintext attacks, while maintaining real-time processing capability (average encryption time < 130 ms for 512 × 512 images). These results substantiate the system’s potential for secure real-time communication applications.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Società Italiana di Fisica and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
