Fall 2024

Seminar Coordinators:


Early Investigations of Terahertz Technology for Biomedical Applications

  • Who: Cecil Joseph, Associate Teaching Professor, Physics and Applied Physics Department, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • When: November 8, 2024 at 1 p.m. EST
  • This is a virtual meeting. Please email: Pamela_Morel@uml.edu for the Zoom link 72 hours prior to the seminar.

Abstract:

Initial interest in biomedical applications for terahertz imaging was driven by the intrinsic contrast observed between normal and cancerous tissue at terahertz frequencies. Contrast mechanisms were not well understood, and tissue water content differences were expected to dominate the interaction of terahertz radiation with tissue. Our initial results on human skin, however, indicated that scattering of light at terahertz frequencies was observable and responsible for observed contrast. We also expanded the investigation with different tissue types. In this talk, I will present the main results of our investigations on a skin and colorectal cancers and also other potential avenues that we had started exploring, including applications of time-domain terahertz systems for biomedical applications.

Biosketch:

Cecil received his BS in Physics (with honors) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi (2002) and his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Massachusetts Lowell in 2010. His doctoral research was conducted under Robert Giles, Ph.D. at the Submillimeter-Wave Technology Laboratory on biomedical applications of continuous-wave terahertz radiation. Cecil joined the Department of Physics Faculty in Fall 2017 and is currently an Associate Teaching Professor. His current interests include active learning strategies to improve student outcomes for large introductory physics courses and investigating pedagogical changes to improve the assessment of student learning.


Deep Learning for RF and Optical Devices

  • Who: Hualiang Zhang, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • When: September 20, 2024 at 1 p.m. EST
  • This is a virtual meeting. Please email: Pamela_Morel@uml.edu for the Zoom link 72 hours prior to the seminar.

Abstract:

Radio Frequency (RF) and optical devices or systems play important roles in our daily life ranging from wireless communication to imaging. Emerging applications such as 5G/6G, internet-of-things, and autonomous driving have imposed stringent requirements to RF and optical devices. The emerging of new RF and optical components such as metasurfaces has led to new challenges. In this talk, I discuss our research activities in deep learning-based techniques for addressing these technical challenges. First, I will discuss our deep learning modeling approach for predicting the performance of freeform optical metasurface structures. Our neural network approach overcomes two key challenges that have limited previous neural-network-based design schemes: input/output vector dimensional mismatch and accurate EM-wave phase prediction. Second, to demonstrate the capability of deep learning techniques for complex and non-intuitive metasurface design, I will present a novel conditional generative network that can achieve meta-atom/metasurface designs based on different performance requirements. Applications of these deep learning networks will also be discussed. Lastly, the application of deep-learning techniques for RF components design will be explored and showcased.

Biosketch:

Hualiang Zhang, Ph.D., is a professor at the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts Lowell. He received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Science and Technology of China in 2003. He received his Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in 2007. From 2007 to 2009 he was a postdoctoral research associate in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Arizona. His current teaching and research interests are on high frequency circuits, components, and systems, enabled by advanced computational techniques, new materials, and innovative manufacturing technologies. Applications of his research include wireless communications (e.g. Satcom, 5G and 6G), internet-of-things, radar sensing, wearable electronics, energy-efficient electronic systems, and optical imaging and sensing systems, ranging from RF/microwave/millimeter-wave to infrared and even beyond. He has published 300 refereed journal and conference papers, as well as 1 book chapter and 6 patents (4 issued, and 2 pending) in related research topics. He has been actively involved in organizing conferences and workshops on microwave, antennas, and wireless devices and systems. He is an associate editor of Wiley's International Journal of Numerical Modelling - Electronic Networks, Devices and Fields. He received the 2018 ECE Department Teaching Excellence award. Zhang is a senior member of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Fall 2022 / Spring 2023

Generalized Space-Time Engineered Modulation (GSTEM) Metamaterials

  • Christophe Caloz, Ph.D.
  • Postponed

Frequency Transformation from Microwave to Terahertz by a Time-varying Medium

  • Dikshitulu K. Kalluri, Professor Emeritus University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • April 20, 2023

THz Technology: The Move from Scientific to Commercial Applications - 6G, Space and More

  • Jeffrey Hesler, Ph.D.
  • December 7, 2022