Keynote Speech 1
My Career Journey into the Field of Terahertz Technology…
(A Tribute to Late Professor Safieddin (Ali) Safavi-Naeini)
Dr. Mohammad Neshat
16-17 pm, Tues. Dec. 13, 2022, Main Hall (In Person)
Abstract
I have been extremely fortunate to start my career journey into the field of terahertz technology with a great supervisor, mentor, and my academic role model, Prof. Safavi-Naeini. He had a vast knowledge and experiences in his field of expertise, was a great educator, an extremely supporting mentor, and a visionary academic/industry leader. In the first part of my talk, I will focus on Safavi-Naeini’s pioneering research on THz technology and his significant contributions to this field. In the second part, I will briefly review our recent contributions achieved in the field of terahertz technology thanks to his enduring legacy.
Short Bio:
Mohammad Neshat is a faculty member at the School of ECE, University of Tehran, Iran. He is the founder of THz Photoelectronics Research Group, and co-founder of THz Devices & Systems Lab at the University of Tehran. He received his B.Sc. degree from the Isfahan University of Technology, Iran, in 1998, and his M.Sc. degree from the Sharif University of Technology, Iran, in 2000, both in Electrical Engineering. From 2000 to 2005, he was R&D Engineer involved in the design, fabrication and test of various microwave components and systems for telecommunication industry. He received his Ph.D. degree from the University of Waterloo, Canada in 2009 in the field of THz photonics. In 2010, he was Postdoctoral Fellow with the Centre for Intelligent Antenna and Radio Systems (CIARS), University of Waterloo. During 2011-2012, he was Postdoctoral Fellow with the Physics & Astronomy Department at the Johns Hopkins University, USA, where he successfully developed the instrumentation for THz time-domain spectroscopic ellipsometry. Dr Neshat is the recipient of various awards for his academic/research achievements including Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2008-2009), University of Waterloo President Graduate Scholarship (2008-2009), Postdoctoral Fellowship Award from Johns Hopkins University (2011-2012), TWAS-COMSTECH Joint Research Grants (2015), and ICSN6 Best Poster Award (2016). His current research interests are on development of novel THz/mmWave devices and systems for emerging applications.
Keynote Speech 2
Millimeter-Wave Technology and AI Enhance the Aviation Security
Dr. Mohammad Fakharzadeh
9-10 am, Wed. Dec. 14, 2022, Main Hall (In Person)
Abstract:
Millimeter-wave frequency is used in body scanners for daily airport security. At this band, waves penetrate through thin objects such as clothing, so any object concealed under the person's clothing can be detected using image processing techniques. Furthermore, this frequency band is safe for human body. On the other hand, due to the short wavelength of the millimeter-wave signals, the quality and resolution of the image is far better than microwave imaging systems. Thus using the Artificial Intelligence (AI) it is possible to categorize or identify the type of the hidden object. The constant scaling of the semiconductor technology has decreased the cost of system manufacturing at millimeter-wave regime, which enables the development of new products and applications at this band.
In this talk, the advantages and application of millimeter-wave technology are analyzed. Particularly, the development of millimeter-wave body scanners to improve the airport security is discussed and the expertise in the design, manufacturing and measurement of the first domestic millimeter-wave product (SIGHTENCE), over the past decade at Sharif University of Technology and Basir-wave Technologies Inc. are elaborated.
Short Bio:
Dr. Fakharzadeh received his B.Sc. degree (honors) in Electrical Eng. from Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran in 2000, his M.Sc. degree in Electrical Eng. from Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran, in 2002 and his Ph.D degree (honors) in Electrical and Computer Eng. from the University of Waterloo, ON, Canada, in 2008 with the outstanding achievements in graduate studies. In Dec. 2014, he joined the Electrical Eng. Dept., Sharif University of Technology, where he is currently an Associate Professor. Prior to that, he was the manager of the antenna and packaging group at Peraso Technologies, Toronto, ON, Canada, developing the integrated millimeter-wave solutions for portable electronic devices. He has over 20 years of experience in the design and implementation of phased-array antenna and mm-wave systems. He was a post-doctoral fellow at CIARS lab, University of Waterloo (2009-2010). He has authored over 100 papers and holds 10 US patents. During 2019-2021, he was the director of Sharif University Advanced Technologies Incubator, focusing on training and developing over 65 high-tech startups. Currently, Dr. Fakharzadeh is the CTO of Basir Wave Technologies, developing the millimeter-wave imaging systems.
Keynote Speech 3
Extreme Control of Light and Radio-Waves with Metasurfaces
Andrea Alù, Photonics Initiative, Advanced Science Research Center, City University of New York
16-17 pm, Wed. Dec, 14, 2022, Main Hall (Online)
Abstract:
In this talk, I discuss our recent research activity in photonics and mm-wave technologies, showing how suitably structured surfaces can open exciting avenues to enable extreme wave phenomena. In particular, I will discuss the role of broken geometrical and temporal symmetries, and of strong wave-matter interactions in polaritonic systems, to open new opportunities for classical and quantum wave control. Our findings open opportunities to tailor waves in robust and efficient ways, controlling their propagation, breaking Lorentz reciprocity and enabling topological order and phase transitions. In the talk, I will discuss the fundamentals of these concepts, and their impact on practical technologies, from imaging and sensing to computing.
Short Bio:
Andrea Alù is a Distinguished Professor at the City University of New York (CUNY), the Founding Director of the Photonics Initiative at the CUNY Advanced Science Research Center, and the Einstein Professor of Physics at the CUNY Graduate Center. He received his Laurea (2001) and PhD (2007) from the University of Roma Tre, Italy, and, after a postdoc at the University of Pennsylvania, he joined the faculty of the University of Texas at Austin in 2009, where he was the Temple Foundation Endowed Professor until Jan. 2018. Dr. Alù is a Fellow of NAI, AAAS, IEEE, OSA, MRS, SPIE and APS, and has received several scientific awards, including the Blavatnik National Award in Physical Sciences and Engineering, the IEEE Kiyo Tomiyasu Award, the Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship, and the NSF Alan T. Waterman award.
Keynote Speech 4
Time-frequency Analysis for TeraHertz Technology Development
Dr. Miguel Navarro-Cía, University of Birmingham
11:30-12:30 am, Thurs. Dec. 15, 2022, Main Hall (Online)
Abstract:
Challenges in coherent generation and detection of THz radiation made the THz spectral window (ca. f = 0.3 – 3 THz; λ = 1 – 0.1 mm) sandwiched between the optical and microwave regimes relatively untapped. A great deal of effort is now carried out to develop THz technology as it holds promise for the next generation of wireless communication, medical diagnosis, security application, etc. The potential of THz in these realms arises from the ability of THz radiation to provide more bandwidth than microwaves, to interact strongly with water and other biomolecules, and to pass through many optically opaque materials (e.g., clothing, paper, etc.). Moreover, THz radiation is non-ionizing. This talk will demonstrate how the use of time-frequency analysis can underpin the development and optimisation of THz technology such as waveguides and antennas.
Short Bio:
Miguel Navarro-Cía SMIEEE, SMOSA, MInstP, MEOS, FHEA received the MEng and PhD degrees in Telecommunication Engineering, and MRes degree in Introduction to Research in Communications from Universidad Pública de Navarra in 2006, 2010 and 2007, respectively, and the Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education from University of Birmingham in 2019.
He is a Reader in TeraHertz Science and Engineering at University of Birmingham. He is also affiliated with Imperial College London as a Visiting Researcher. Previously, he was a Research & Teaching Assistant at Universidad Pública de Navarra (2010-2011), a Research Associate at Imperial College London (2011-2012) and University College London (2012), and a Junior Research Fellow at Imperial College London (2012-2015). He worked as a Visiting Researcher at University College London, University of Pennsylvania, Imperial College London and Valencia Nanophotonics Technology Center.
He is the coauthor of 2 chapter books (e.g., ‘Principles of THz generation’, published by Wiley-IEEE Press in 2015), 120+ journal papers, and over 300 conferences papers. He is an editorial board member for IET Microwaves, Antennas & Propagation, Frontiers in Photonics – Plasmonics, Advanced Electromagnetics, and Radiophysics and Electronics.
His current research interests include theory, technology and applications of (near-field) time-domain spectroscopy/microscopy/imaging, metamaterials, plasmonics, antennas and frequency-selective surfaces at millimeter-wave, terahertz, and infrared.
