arXiv subjects

Zhen Gao

Publications and source records attributed to Zhen Gao.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2026

Ultra-Massive MIMO with Orthogonal Chirp Division Multiplexing for Near-Field Sensing and Communication Integration

This paper integrates the emerging ultra-massive multiple-input multiple-output (UM-MIMO) technique with orthogonal chirp division multiplexing (OCDM) waveform to tackle the challenging near-field integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) problem. Specifically, we conceive a comprehensive ISAC architecture, where an UM-MIMO base station adopts OCDM waveform for communications and a co-located sensing receiver adopts the frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) detection principle to simplify the associated hardware. For sensing tasks, several OCDM subcarriers, namely, dedicated sensing subcarriers (DSSs), are each transmitted through a dedicated sensing antenna (DSA) within the transmit antenna array. By judiciously designing the DSS selection scheme and optimizing receiver parameters, the FMCW-based sensing receiver can decouple the echo signals from different DSAs with significantly reduced hardware complexity. This setup enables the estimation of ranges and velocities of near-field targets in an antenna-pairwise manner. Moreover, by leveraging the spatial diversity of UM-MIMO, we introduce the concept of virtual bistatic sensing (VIBS), which incorporates the estimates from multiple antenna pairs to achieve high-accuracy target positioning and three-dimensional velocity measurement. The VIBS paradigm is immune to hostile channel environments characterized by spatial non-stationarity and uncorrelated multipath environment. Furthermore, the channel estimation of UM-MIMO OCDM systems enhanced by the sensing results is investigated. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed ISAC scheme enhances sensing accuracy, and also benefits communication performance.

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arXiv2026

Ultrasensitive Terahertz Metasurface Biosensor Based on Quasi-Bound States in the Continuum

The terahertz (THz) spectral regime offers unique opportunities for next-generation biochemical sensing due to its non-destructive, label-free probing capability and strong sensitivity to molecular vibrations. However, conventional THz biosensors remain hampered by intrinsically low-quality factors and limited sensitivity, severely restricting their utility for trace-level biochemical and chemical detection. Here, we report an ultrasensitive THz metasurface biosensor that harnesses quasi-bound states in the continuum (QBICs) with sharp resonances and enhanced light-matter interactions to overcome these limitations. As a proof of concept, the device achieves label-free detection of a sulfur-containing amino acid cysteine, with an ultrahigh sensitivity of 492 GHz/RIU and an ultralow detection limit down to 0.00025 mg/mL. The synergy between QBIC-induced field confinement and meticulous structural optimization of the metasurface underpins this performance, marking a significant advance over conventional THz metasurface biosensing schemes. These results establish QBIC-based metasurfaces as a promising platform for ultrasensitive and high-precision biochemical and chemical sensing, with broad implications for medical diagnostics, food safety, and environmental monitoring.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Rydberg Atomic Receivers for Net-Zero 6G Wireless Communication and Sensing: Progress, Experiments, and Sustainable Prospects

Against the backdrop of the global drive to advance the green transformation of the information and communications technology (ICT) industry and leverage technological innovation to facilitate the achievement of Net-Zero carbon goals, research into Rydberg atomic receivers (RAREs) is gaining significant interest. RAREs leverage the electron transition phenomenon for signal reception, offering significant advantages over conventional radio frequency receivers in terms of miniaturized antenna design, high sensitivity, robust interference resistance, and compact form factors, which positions them as a competitive alternative for meeting zero-carbon communication demands. This article systematically elaborates on the basic principle, state-of-the-art progress, and novel experiments of RAREs in quantum wireless communication and sensing. In this first-of-its-kind work, we experimentally verify the RARE-based orthogonal frequency division multiplexing transmission and reveal the potential of deep learning design in optimizing quantum wireless systems. Finally, we delve into the prospect of integrating RARE with existing cutting-edge application scenarios, while mapping out critical pathways for developing Rydberg-based wireless systems.

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arXiv2026

A Joint Graph-Cut Channel Estimation Method for Multi-user Holographic MIMO

To address the challenges of high-dimensional channel estimation and underutilized spatial correlations among users in holographic MIMO (HMIMO) systems, this paper proposes a joint graph-cut algorithm for multi-user channel estimation in the wavenumber domain. The size of the conventional angular domain channel matrix increases with the number of antennas in densely-spaced HMIMO. Therefore, user channels are projected into the wavenumber domain via a Fourier harmonic transform, revealing their inherent clustered sparsity and exploiting common scatterer clusters among users. Subsequently, a joint graph-cut channel estimation (JGC-CE) algorithm based on multi-user common supports is designed. In each iteration, the algorithm first partitions user clusters to extract shared supports. Then for each user, it performs users' individual graph update and channel estimation to reconstruct the channel matrix. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms independent estimation schemes for individual users in accuracy while reducing pilot length.

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arXiv2026

Observation of Chiral Bound States in the Continuum in Self-biased Magneto-optical Photonic Crystals

Chiral bound states in the continuum (BICs) are confined photonic modes with infinite quality factors and chiral response, offering significant potential for chiral optics. Although a novel type of spin-orbital-locking chiral BIC was recently predicted in magneto-optical (MO) photonic crystals (PhCs) that break time-reversal symmetry (TRS), its experimental realization has remained elusive. Here, we report the first experimental observation of such chiral BICs in self-biased MO PhCs, which operate without external magnetic fields. Moreover, we experimentally demonstrate that the chirality and the surrounding near-circular polarization of these chiral BICs can be switched simply by reversing the remanent magnetization, without any structural changes. Unlike conventional chiral BICs that preserve TRS, these magnetically induced chiral BICs exhibit exceptional robustness against structural imperfections and perturbations. This work represents a significant advancement in the topological photonics of chiral BICs, opening new pathways toward robust chiral optical devices.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

From Specialist to Large Models: A Paradigm Evolution Towards Semantic-Aware MIMO

The sixth generation (6G) network is expected to deploy larger multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) arrays to support massive connectivity, which will increase overhead and latency at the physical layer. Meanwhile, emerging 6G demands such as immersive communications and environmental sensing pose challenges to traditional signal processing. To address these issues, we propose the ``semantic-aware MIMO'' paradigm, which leverages specialist models and large models to perceive, utilize, and fuse the inherent semantics of channels and sources for improved performance. Moreover, for representative MIMO physical-layer tasks, e.g., random access activity detection, channel feedback, and precoding, we design specialist models that exploit channel and source semantics for better performance. Additionally, in view of the more diversified functions of 6G MIMO, we further explore large models as a scalable solution for multi-task semantic-aware MIMO and review recent advances along with their advantages and limitations. Finally, we discuss the challenges, insights, and prospects of the evolution of specialist models and large models empowered semantic-aware MIMO paradigms.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2026

MD-AirComp+: Adaptive Quantization for Blind Massive Digital Over-the-Air Computation

Recent research has shown that unsourced massive access (UMA) is naturally well-suited for over-the-air computation (AirComp), as it does not require knowledge of each individual signal, as demonstrated by the massive digital AirComp (MD-AirComp) scheme proposed in prior work. The MD-AirComp scheme has proven effective in federated edge learning and is highly compatible with current digital wireless networks. However, it depends on channel pre-equalization, which may amplify computation errors in the presence of channel estimation inaccuracies, thus limiting its practical use. In this paper, we propose a blind MD-AirComp+ scheme, which takes advantage of the channel hardening effect in massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. We provide an upper bound on the computation mean square error, analyze the trade-off between computation accuracy and communication overhead, and determine the optimal quantization level. Additionally, we introduce a deep unfolding algorithm to reduce the computational complexity of solving the underdetermined detection problem formulated as a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator optimization problem. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed MD-AirComp+ framework, the optimal quantization selection strategy, and the low-complexity detection algorithm.

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arXiv2026

A Survey on Reconfigurable and Movable Antennas for Wireless Communications and Sensing

Reconfigurable antennas (RAs) and movable antennas (MAs) have been recognized as promising technologies to enhance the performance of wireless communication and sensing systems by introducing additional degrees of freedom (DoFs) in tuning antenna radiation and/or placement. This paradigm shift from conventional non-reconfigurable/movable antennas offers tremendous new opportunities for realizing multi-functional, more adaptive, and efficient next-generation wireless networks. In this paper, we provide a comprehensive survey on the fundamentals, architectures, and applications of these two emerging antenna technologies. First, we provide a chronological overview of the parallel historical development of both RA and MA technologies. Next, we review and classify the state-of-the-art hardware architectures for implementing RAs and MAs, followed by a detailed comparison of their distinct mechanisms, performance metrics, and functionalities. Subsequently, we focus on various applications of RAs and MAs in wireless communication systems, analyzing their respective performance advantages and key design considerations such as mode selection, movement optimization, and channel acquisition. We also explore the significant roles of RAs and MAs in advancing wireless sensing and integrated sensing and communication (ISAC). Furthermore, we present numerical performance comparisons to illustrate the distinct characteristics and complementary advantages of RA and MA systems. Finally, we outline key challenges and identify promising future research directions to inspire further innovations in this burgeoning field.

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arXiv2026

Deep learning based Channel Estimation and Beamforming in Movable Antenna Systems

Movable antenna (MA) has emerged as a promising technology for future wireless systems. Compared with traditional fixed-position antennas, MA improves system performance by antenna movement to optimize channel conditions. For multiuser wideband MA systems, this paper proposes deep learning-based framework integrating channel estimation (CE), antenna position optimization, and beamforming, with a clear workflow and enhanced efficiency. Specifically, to obtain accurate channel state information (CSI), we design a two-stage CE mechanism: first reconstructing the channel matrix from limited measurements via compressive sensing, then introducing a Swin-Transformer-based denoising network to refine CE accuracy for subsequent optimization. Building on this, we address the joint optimization challenge by proposing a Transformer-based network that intelligently maps CSI sequences of candidate positions to optimal MA positions while combining a model-driven weighted minimum mean square error (WMMSE) beamforming approach to achieve better performance. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed methods achieve superior performance compared with existing counterparts under various conditions. The codes about this work are available at https://github.com/ZiweiWan/Code-4-DL-MA-CE-BF.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2026

Transformer-based Hybrid Beamforming with Dynamic Subarray for Near-Space Airship-Borne Communications

This paper proposes a hybrid beamforming framework for massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) in near-space airship-borne communications. To achieve high energy efficiency (EE) in energy-constraint airships, a dynamic subarray structure is introduced, where each radio frequency chain (RFC) is connected to a disjoint subset of the antennas according to channel state information (CSI). The proposed joint dynamic hybrid beamforming network (DyHBFNet) comprises three key components: 1) An analog beamforming network (ABFNet) that optimizes the analog beamforming matrices and provides auxiliary information for the antenna selection network (ASNet) design, 2) an ASNet that dynamically optimizes the connections between antennas and RFCs, and 3) a digital beamforming network (DBFNet) that optimizes digital beamforming matrices by employing a model-driven weighted minimum mean square error algorithm for improving beamforming performance and convergence speed. The proposed ABFNet, ASNet, and DBFNet are all designed based on advanced Transformer encoders. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed framework significantly enhances spectral efficiency and EE compared to baseline schemes. Additionally, its robust performance under imperfect CSI makes it a scalable solution for practical implementations.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2026

Generative Diffusion Model Driven Massive Random Access in Massive MIMO Systems

Massive random access is an important technology for achieving ultra-massive connectivity in next-generation wireless communication systems. It aims to address key challenges during the initial access phase, including active user detection (AUD), channel estimation (CE), and data detection (DD). This paper examines massive access in massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, where deep learning is used to tackle the challenging AUD, CE, and DD functions. First, we introduce a Transformer-AUD scheme tailored for variable pilot-length access. This approach integrates pilot length information and a spatial correlation module into a Transformer-based detector, enabling a single model to generalize across various pilot lengths and antenna numbers. Next, we propose a generative diffusion model (GDM)-driven iterative CE and DD framework. The GDM employs a score function to capture the posterior distributions of massive MIMO channels and data symbols. Part of the score function is learned from the channel dataset via neural networks, while the remaining score component is derived in a closed form by applying the symbol prior constellation distribution and known transmission model. Utilizing these posterior scores, we design an asynchronous alternating CE and DD framework that employs a predictor-corrector sampling technique to iteratively generate channel estimation and data detection results during the reverse diffusion process. Simulation results demonstrate that our proposed approaches significantly outperform baseline methods with respect to AUD, CE, and DD.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2026

Knowledge Distillation Driven Semantic NOMA for Image Transmission with Diffusion Model

As a promising 6G enabler beyond conventional bit-level transmission, semantic communication can considerably reduce required bandwidth resources, while its combination with multiple access requires further exploration. This paper proposes a knowledge distillation-driven and diffusion-enhanced (KDD) semantic non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA), named KDD-SemNOMA, for multi-user uplink wireless image transmission. Specifically, to ensure robust feature transmission across diverse transmission conditions, we firstly develop a ConvNeXt-based deep joint source and channel coding architecture with enhanced adaptive feature module. This module incorporates signal-to-noise ratio and channel state information to dynamically adapt to additive white Gaussian noise and Rayleigh fading channels. Furthermore, to improve image restoration quality without inference overhead, we introduce a two-stage knowledge distillation strategy, i.e., a teacher model, trained on interference-free orthogonal transmission, guides a student model via feature affinity distillation and cross-head prediction distillation. Moreover, a diffusion model-based refinement stage leverages generative priors to transform initial SemNOMA outputs into high-fidelity images with enhanced perceptual quality. Extensive experiments on CIFAR-10 and FFHQ-256 datasets demonstrate superior performance over state-of-the-art methods, delivering satisfactory reconstruction performance even at extremely poor channel conditions. These results highlight the advantages in both pixel-level accuracy and perceptual metrics, effectively mitigating interference and enabling high-quality image recovery.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2026

Higher-order Topological Type-II Hyperbolic Lattices

Recently, higher-order topological phases have been extended from Euclidean lattices to non-Euclidean hyperbolic lattices. Though higher-order topological type-I hyperbolic lattices have been extensively studied, their counterpart, higher-order topological type-II hyperbolic lattices, have never been reported yet. Here, by mapping the celebrated Bernevig-Hughes-Zhang model onto a type-II hyperbolic lattice, we present a theoretical exploration of the first-order topological edge states and second-order topological corner states in a type-II hyperbolic lattice. Compared with the higher-order topological type-I hyperbolic lattices, we discover two unique topological phenomena that stem from the nontrivial geometrical topology of the type-II hyperbolic lattice. First, topological edge and corner states exist on both inner and outer boundaries of the type-II hyperbolic lattice and exhibit higher degeneracy than those in the type-I hyperbolic lattice with only an outer boundary. Second, the degeneracy of type-II hyperbolic corner states can be arbitrarily tuned by changing the characteristic (or inner) radius, in contrast to its type-I counterpart, which is determined by the number of sides of the tessellated polygons. Our work explores topological states in more complex hyperbolic lattices, significantly expanding the research scope of hyperbolic topological physics.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Space and space-time topologies in a type-II hyperbolic lattice

Recent breakthroughs in hyperbolic lattices have expanded the study of topological phases of matter from Euclidean to non-Euclidean spaces. However, prior work has mostly focused on spatial topological states at the single outer edge of type-I hyperbolic lattices. The dynamic transfer of hyperbolic topological states across multiple edges, as well as the emergence of spatiotemporal topological phenomena, remains largely unexplored. Here, we establish both spatial and spatiotemporal topologies in a newly discovered type-II hyperbolic lattice possessing outer and inner edges. Using electric circuits, we experimentally realize a type-II hyperbolic Chern insulator and directly observe degenerate chiral edge states of opposite chirality at its outer and inner edges. Furthermore, by coupling these counter-propagating chiral edge states, we demonstrate an anti-time-parity phase transition, enabling dynamic transfer between them in arbitrary proportions. Finally, we propose a novel paradigm for constructing a (2+1)-dimensional hyperbolic space-time crystal, which hosts an intertwined topology of spatial Chern and temporal winding numbers, resulting in a unique space-time topological string state. Our work expands the frontier of hyperbolic topological physics, paving the way for the spatiotemporal dynamic manipulation of hyperbolic topological states.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2026

Movable Antenna for Integrating Near-field Channel Estimation and Localization

Movable antenna (MA) introduces a new degree of freedom for future wireless communication systems by enabling the adaptive adjustment of antenna positions. Its large-range movement renders wireless channels transmission into the near-field region, which brings new performance enhancement for integrated sensing and communication (ISAC). This paper proposes a novel multi-stage design framework for broadband near-field ISAC assisted by MA. The framework first divides the MA movement area into multiple subregions, and employs the Newtonized orthogonal matching pursuit algorithm (NOMP) to achieve high-precision angle estimation in each subregion. Subsequently, a method called near-field localization via subregion ray clustering (LSRC) is proposed for identifying the positions of scatterers. This method finds the coordinates of each scatterer by jointly processing the angle estimates across all subregions. Finally, according to the estimated locations of the scatterers, the near-field channel estimation (CE) is refined for improving communication performance. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed scheme can significantly enhance MA sensing accuracy and CE, providing an efficient solution for MA-aided near-field ISAC.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2026

Intelligent Multimodal Multi-Sensor Fusion-Based UAV Identification, Localization, and Countermeasures for Safeguarding Low-Altitude Economy

The development of the low-altitude economy has led to a growing prominence of uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) safety management issues. Therefore, accurate identification, real-time localization, and effective countermeasures have become core challenges in airspace security assurance. This paper introduces an integrated UAV management and control system based on deep learning, which integrates multimodal multi-sensor fusion perception, precise positioning, and collaborative countermeasures. By incorporating deep learning methods, the system combines radio frequency (RF) spectral feature analysis, radar detection, electro-optical identification, and other methods at the detection level to achieve the identification and classification of UAVs. At the localization level, the system relies on multi-sensor data fusion and the air-space-ground integrated communication network to conduct real-time tracking and prediction of UAV flight status, providing support for early warning and decision-making. At the countermeasure level, it adopts comprehensive measures that integrate ``soft kill'' and ``hard kill'', including technologies such as electromagnetic signal jamming, navigation spoofing, and physical interception, to form a closed-loop management and control process from early warning to final disposal, which significantly enhances the response efficiency and disposal accuracy of low-altitude UAV management.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2026

AI Signal Processing Paradigm for Movable Antenna: From Spatial Position Optimization to Electromagnetic Reconfigurability

As 6G wireless communication systems evolve toward intelligence, high reconfigurability, and space-air-ground integration \cite{liu2025toward, liu2024near}, the limitations of traditional fixed antenna (TFA) have become increasingly prominent. As a remedy, spatially movable antenna (SMA) and electromagnetically reconfigurable antenna (ERA) have respectively emerged as key technologies to break through this bottleneck. SMA activates spatial degree of freedom (DoF) by dynamically adjusting antenna positions, ERA regulates radiation characteristics using tunable metamaterials, thereby introducing DoF in the electromagnetic domain. However, the ``spatial-electromagnetic dual reconfiguration" paradigm formed by their integration poses severe challenges of high-dimensional hybrid optimization to signal processing. To address this issue, we integrate the spatial optimization of SMA and the electromagnetic reconfiguration of ERA, propose a unified modeling framework termed movable and reconfigurable antenna (MARA) and investigate the channel modeling and spectral efficiency (SE) optimization for MARA. Besides, we systematically review artificial intelligence (AI)-based solutions, focusing on analyzing the advantages of AI over traditional algorithms in solving high-dimensional non-convex optimization problems. This paper fills the gap in existing literature regarding the lack of a comprehensive review on the AI-driven signal processing paradigm under spatial-electromagnetic dual reconfiguration and provides theoretical guidance for the design and optimization of 6G wireless systems with advanced MARA.

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arXiv2025

Radiation Pattern Reconfigurable FAS-Empowered Interference-Resilient UAV Communication

The widespread use of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) has propelled the development of advanced techniques on countering unauthorized UAV flights. However, the resistance of legal UAVs to illegal interference remains under-addressed. This paper proposes radiation pattern reconfigurable fluid antenna systems (RPR-FAS)-empowered interference-resilient UAV communication scheme. This scheme integrates the reconfigurable pixel antenna technology, which provides each antenna with an adjustable radiation pattern. Therefore, RPR-FAS can enhance the angular resolution of a UAV with a limited number of antennas, thereby improving spectral efficiency (SE) and interference resilience. Specifically, we first design dedicated radiation pattern adapted from 3GPP-TR-38.901, where the beam direction and half power beamwidth are tailored for UAV communications. Furthermore, we propose a low-storage-overhead orthogonal matching pursuit multiple measurement vectors algorithm, which accurately estimates the angle-of-arrival (AoA) of the communication link, even in the single antenna case. Particularly, by utilizing the Fourier transform to the radiation pattern gain matrix, we design a dimension-reduction technique to achieve 1--2 order-of-magnitude reduction in storage requirements. Meanwhile, we propose a maximum likelihood interference AoA estimation method based on the law of large numbers, so that the SE can be further improved. Finally, alternating optimization is employed to obtain the optimal uplink radiation pattern and combiner, while an exhaustive search is applied to determine the optimal downlink pattern, complemented by the water-filling algorithm for beamforming. Comprehensive simulations demonstrate that the proposed schemes outperform traditional methods in terms of angular sensing precision and spectral efficiency.

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