arXiv subjects

Zhen Gao

Publications and source records attributed to Zhen Gao.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2025

Terahertz Integrated Sensing and Communication-Empowered UAVs in 6G: A Transceiver Design Perspective

Due to their high maneuverability, flexible deployment, and low cost, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are expected to play a pivotal role in not only communication, but also sensing. Especially by exploiting the ultra-wide bandwidth of terahertz (THz) bands, integrated sensing and communication (ISAC)-empowered UAV has been a promising technology of 6G space-air-ground integrated networks. In this article, we systematically investigate the key techniques and essential obstacles for THz-ISAC-empowered UAV from a transceiver design perspective, with the highlight of its major challenges and key technologies. Specifically, we discuss the THz-ISAC-UAV wireless propagation environment, based on which several channel characteristics for communication and sensing are revealed. We point out the transceiver payload design peculiarities for THz-ISAC-UAV from the perspective of antenna design, radio frequency front-end, and baseband signal processing. To deal with the specificities faced by the payload, we shed light on three key technologies, i.e., hybrid beamforming for ultra-massive MIMO-ISAC, power-efficient THz-ISAC waveform design, as well as communication and sensing channel state information acquisition, and extensively elaborate their concepts and key issues. More importantly, future research directions and associated open problems are presented, which may unleash the full potential of THz-ISAC-UAV for 6G wireless networks.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2025

SCSC: A Novel Standards-Compatible Semantic Communication Framework for Image Transmission

Joint source-channel coding (JSCC) is a promising paradigm for next-generation communication systems, particularly in challenging transmission environments. In this paper, we propose a novel standard-compatible JSCC framework for the transmission of images over multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels. Different from the existing end-to-end AI-based DeepJSCC schemes, our framework consists of learnable modules that enable communication using conventional separate source and channel codes (SSCC), which makes it amenable for easy deployment on legacy systems. Specifically, the learnable modules involve a preprocessing-empowered network (PPEN) for preserving essential semantic information, and a precoder \& combiner-enhanced network (PCEN) for efficient transmission over a resource-constrained MIMO channel. We treat existing compression and channel coding modules as non-trainable blocks. Since the parameters of these modules are non-differentiable, we employ a proxy network that mimics their operations when training the learnable modules. Numerical results demonstrate that our scheme can save more than 29\% of the channel bandwidth, and requires lower complexity compared to the constrained baselines. We also show its generalization capability to unseen datasets and tasks through extensive experiments.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2024

A Systematic Review of Machine Learning Methods for Multimodal EEG Data in Clinical Application

Machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques have been widely applied to analyze electroencephalography (EEG) signals for disease diagnosis and brain-computer interfaces (BCI). The integration of multimodal data has been shown to enhance the accuracy of ML and DL models. Combining EEG with other modalities can improve clinical decision-making by addressing complex tasks in clinical populations. This systematic literature review explores the use of multimodal EEG data in ML and DL models for clinical applications. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, yielding 16 relevant studies after three rounds of filtering. These studies demonstrate the application of multimodal EEG data in addressing clinical challenges, including neuropsychiatric disorders, neurological conditions (e.g., seizure detection), neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder), and sleep stage classification. Data fusion occurred at three levels: signal, feature, and decision levels. The most commonly used ML models were support vector machines (SVM) and decision trees. Notably, 11 out of the 16 studies reported improvements in model accuracy with multimodal EEG data. This review highlights the potential of multimodal EEG-based ML models in enhancing clinical diagnostics and problem-solving.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2024

Generic doubling of rectangular pegs

We prove a multiplicity result for rectangular pegs that there is a generic class of smooth Jordan curves in which every curve admits two geometrically distinct similar inscribed rectangles with aspect angle in $(0,\fracπ{2})$, based on the existence of rectangular pegs in any smooth Jordan curve, which is first proved by Greene and Lobb [GL21] and we give an alternative Floer theoretical proof in this paper. The key insight is that the rectangular peg problem is translated into finding intersection points of two Lagrangian tori. We present two distinct proofs for the multiplicity result: one involves Lagrangian Floer homology, and the other is differential topological in nature which employs a novel computation formula for the algebraic intersection number. Both rely crucially on certain generic geometric transversality of the two tori, and the correspondence between the intersection points and the inscribed rectangles. Moreover, such a generic doubling result can be further extended to cyclic quadrilateral pegs based on the existence result [GL23]. In Appendix B, written jointly with Urs Frauenfelder, we provide the detailed derivation of the computation formula for the algebraic intersection number.

math.SG↗

arXiv2024

Integrated Location Sensing and Communication for Ultra-Massive MIMO With Hybrid-Field Beam-Squint Effect

The advent of ultra-massive multiple-input-multiple output systems holds great promise for next-generation communications, yet their channels exhibit hybrid far- and near- field beam-squint (HFBS) effect. In this paper, we not only overcome but also harness the HFBS effect to propose an integrated location sensing and communication (ILSC) framework. During the uplink training stage, user terminals (UTs) transmit reference signals for simultaneous channel estimation and location sensing. This stage leverages an elaborately designed hybrid-field projection matrix to overcome the HFBS effect and estimate the channel in compressive manner. Subsequently, the scatterers' locations can be sensed from the spherical wavefront based on the channel estimation results. By treating the sensed scatterers as virtual anchors, we employ a weighted least-squares approach to derive UT' s location. Moreover, we propose an iterative refinement mechanism, which utilizes the accurately estimated time difference of arrival of multipath components to enhance location sensing precision. In the following downlink data transmission stage, we leverage the acquired location information to further optimize the hybrid beamformer, which combines the beam broadening and focusing to mitigate the spectral efficiency degradation resulted from the HFBS effect. Extensive simulation experiments demonstrate that the proposed ILSC scheme has superior location sensing and communication performance than conventional methods.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2024

Reconfigurable Massive MIMO: Precoding Design and Channel Estimation in the Electromagnetic Domain

Reconfigurable massive multiple-input multiple-output (RmMIMO), as an electronically-controlled fluid antenna system, offers increased flexibility for future communication systems by exploiting previously untapped degrees of freedom in the electromagnetic (EM) domain. The representation of the traditional spatial domain channel state information (sCSI) limits the insights into the potential of EM domain channel properties, constraining the base station's (BS) utmost capability for precoding design. This paper leverages the EM domain channel state information (eCSI) for antenna radiation pattern design at the BS. We develop an orthogonal decomposition method based on spherical harmonic functions to decompose the radiation pattern into a linear combination of orthogonal bases. By formulating the radiation pattern design as an optimization problem for the projection coefficients over these bases, we develop a manifold optimization-based method for iterative radiation pattern and digital precoder design. To address the eCSI estimation problem, we capitalize on the inherent structure of the channel. Specifically, we propose a subspace-based scheme to reduce the pilot overhead for wideband sCSI estimation. Given the estimated full-band sCSI, we further employ parameterized methods for angle of arrival estimation. Subsequently, the complete eCSI can be reconstructed after estimating the equivalent channel gain via the least squares method. Simulation results demonstrate that, in comparison to traditional mMIMO systems with fixed antenna radiation patterns, the proposed RmMIMO architecture offers significant throughput gains for multi-user transmission at a low channel estimation overhead.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2024

Topological Dirac-vortex modes in a three-dimensional photonic topological insulator

Recently, topological Dirac-vortex modes in Kekulé-distorted photonic lattices have attracted broad interest and exhibited promising applications in robust photonic devices such as topological cavities, lasers, and fibers. However, due to the vectorial nature of electromagnetic waves that results in complicated band dispersions and fails the tight-binding model predictions, it is challenging to construct three-dimensional (3D) topological photonic structures with Kekulé distortion and the photonic topological Dirac-vortex modes have thus far been limited to two-dimensional (2D) systems. Here, by directly mapping a 3D Kekulé-distorted tight-binding model in a 3D tight-binding-like photonic crystal exhibiting scalar-wave-like band structures, we theoretically propose and experimentally demonstrate topological Dirac-vortex modes in a 3D photonic topological insulator for the first time. Using microwave near-field measurements, we directly observe robust photonic topological Dirac-vortex modes bound to and propagate along a one-dimensional (1D) Dirac-vortex line defect, matching well with the tight-binding and simulation results. Our work offers an ideal platform to map tight-binding models in 3D topological photonic crystals directly and opens a new avenue for exploiting topological lattice defects to manipulate light in 3D space.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Unauthorized UAV Countermeasure for Low-Altitude Economy: Joint Communications and Jamming based on MIMO Cellular Systems

To ensure the thriving development of low-altitude economy, countering unauthorized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is an essential task. The existing widely deployed base stations hold great potential for joint communication and jamming. In light of this, this paper investigates the joint design of beamforming to simultaneously support communication with legitimate users and countermeasure against unauthorized UAVs based on dual-functional multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) cellular systems. We first formulate a joint communication and jamming (JCJ) problem, relaxing it through semi-definite relaxation (SDR) to obtain a tractable semi-definite programming (SDP) problem, with SDR providing an essential step toward simplifying the complex JCJ design. Although the solution to the relaxed SDP problem cannot directly solve the original problem, it offers valuable insights for further refinement. Therefore, we design a novel constraint specifically tailored to the structure of the SDP problem, ensuring that the solution adheres to the rank-1 constraint of the original problem. Finally, we validate effectiveness of the proposed JCJ scheme through extensive simulations. Simulation codes are provided to reproduce the results in this paper: https://github.com/LiZhuoRan0. The results confirm that the proposed JCJ scheme can operate effectively when the total number of legitimate users and unauthorized UAVs exceeds the number of antennas.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2024

CSI-GPT: Integrating Generative Pre-Trained Transformer with Federated-Tuning to Acquire Downlink Massive MIMO Channels

In massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, how to reliably acquire downlink channel state information (CSI) with low overhead is challenging. In this work, by integrating the generative pre-trained Transformer (GPT) with federated-tuning, we propose a CSI-GPT approach to realize efficient downlink CSI acquisition. Specifically, we first propose a Swin Transformer-based channel acquisition network (SWTCAN) to acquire downlink CSI, where pilot signals, downlink channel estimation, and uplink CSI feedback are jointly designed. Furthermore, to solve the problem of insufficient training data, we propose a variational auto-encoder-based channel sample generator (VAE-CSG), which can generate sufficient CSI samples based on a limited number of high-quality CSI data obtained from the current cell. The CSI dataset generated from VAE-CSG will be used for pre-training SWTCAN. To fine-tune the pre-trained SWTCAN for improved performance, we propose an online federated-tuning method, where only a small amount of SWTCAN parameters are unfrozen and updated using over-the-air computation, avoiding the high communication overhead caused by aggregating the complete CSI samples from user equipment (UEs) to the BS for centralized fine-tuning. Simulation results verify the advantages of the proposed SWTCAN and the communication efficiency of the proposed federated-tuning method. Our code is publicly available at https://github.com/BIT-ZY/CSI-GPT

cs.IT↗

arXiv2024

Reinforcement-Learning-Enabled Beam Alignment for Water-Air Direct Optical Wireless Communications

The escalating interests on underwater exploration/reconnaissance applications have motivated high-rate data transmission from underwater to airborne relaying platforms, especially under high-sea scenarios. Thanks to its broad bandwidth and superior confidentiality, Optical wireless communication has become one promising candidate for water-air transmission. However, the optical signals inevitably suffer from deviations when crossing the highly-dynamic water-air interfaces in the absence of relaying ships/buoys. To address the issue, this article proposes one novel beam alignment strategy based on deep reinforcement learning (DRL) for water-air direct optical wireless communications. Specifically, the dynamic water-air interface is mathematically modeled using sea-wave spectrum analysis, followed by characterization of the propagation channel with ray-tracing techniques. Then the deep deterministic policy gradient (DDPG) scheme is introduced for DRL-based transceiving beam alignment. A logarithm-exponential (LE) nonlinear reward function with respect to the received signal strength is designed for high-resolution rewarding between different actions. Simulation results validate the superiority of the proposed DRL-based beam alignment scheme.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2024

Massive Digital Over-the-Air Computation for Communication-Efficient Federated Edge Learning

Over-the-air computation (AirComp) is a promising technology converging communication and computation over wireless networks, which can be particularly effective in model training, inference, and more emerging edge intelligence applications. AirComp relies on uncoded transmission of individual signals, which are added naturally over the multiple access channel thanks to the superposition property of the wireless medium. Despite significantly improved communication efficiency, how to accommodate AirComp in the existing and future digital communication networks, that are based on discrete modulation schemes, remains a challenge. This paper proposes a massive digital AirComp (MD-AirComp) scheme, that leverages an unsourced massive access protocol, to enhance compatibility with both current and next-generation wireless networks. MD-AirComp utilizes vector quantization to reduce the uplink communication overhead, and employs shared quantization and modulation codebooks. At the receiver, we propose a near-optimal approximate message passing-based algorithm to compute the model aggregation results from the superposed sequences, which relies on estimating the number of devices transmitting each code sequence, rather than trying to decode the messages of individual transmitters. We apply MD-AirComp to the federated edge learning (FEEL), and show that it significantly accelerates FEEL convergence compared to state-of-the-art while using the same amount of communication resources. To support further research and ensure reproducibility, we have made our code available at https://github.com/liqiao19/MD-AirComp.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2024

Block-Sparse Tensor Recovery

This work explores the fundamental problem of the recoverability of a sparse tensor being reconstructed from its compressed embodiment. We present a generalized model of block-sparse tensor recovery as a theoretical foundation, where concepts measuring holistic mutual incoherence property (MIP) of the measurement matrix set are defined. A representative algorithm based on the orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) framework, called tensor generalized block OMP (T-GBOMP), is applied to the theoretical framework elaborated for analyzing both noiseless and noisy recovery conditions. Specifically, we present the exact recovery condition (ERC) and sufficient conditions for establishing it with consideration of different degrees of restriction. Reliable reconstruction conditions, in terms of the residual convergence, the estimated error and the signal-to-noise ratio bound, are established to reveal the computable theoretical interpretability based on the newly defined MIP, which we introduce. The flexibility of tensor recovery is highlighted, i.e., the reliable recovery can be guaranteed by optimizing MIP of the measurement matrix set. Analytical comparisons demonstrate that the theoretical results developed are tighter and less restrictive than the existing ones (if any). Further discussions provide tensor extensions for several classic greedy algorithms, indicating that the sophisticated results derived are universal and applicable to all these tensorized variants.

eess.SP↗

arXiv2024

Realization of Topology-controlled Photonic Cavities in a Valley Photonic Crystal

We report an experimental realization of a new type of topology-controlled photonic cavities in valley photonic crystals by adopting judiciously oriented mirrors to localize the valley-polarized edge states along their propagation path. By using microwave frequency- and time-domain measurements, we directly observe the strong confinement of electromagnetic energy at the mirror surface due to the extended time delay required for the valley index flipping. Moreover, we experimentally demonstrate that both the degree of energy localization and quality factors of the topology-controlled photonic cavities are determined by the valley-flipping time which is controlled by the topology of the mirror. These results extend and complement the current design paradigm of topological photonic cavities.

physics.optics↗

arXiv2024

Three-layer deep learning network random trees for fault detection in chemical production process

With the development of technology, the chemical production process is becoming increasingly complex and large-scale, making fault detection particularly important. However, current detective methods struggle to address the complexities of large-scale production processes. In this paper, we integrate the strengths of deep learning and machine learning technologies, combining the advantages of bidirectional long and short-term memory neural networks, fully connected neural networks, and the extra trees algorithm to propose a novel fault detection model named three-layer deep learning network random trees (TDLN-trees). First, the deep learning component extracts temporal features from industrial data, combining and transforming them into a higher-level data representation. Second, the machine learning component processes and classifies the features extracted in the first step. An experimental analysis based on the Tennessee Eastman process verifies the superiority of the proposed method.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2024

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface Empowered Full Duplex Systems: Opportunities and Challenges

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RISs) have emerged as a promising technology in wireless communications. Simultaneously transmitting and reflecting RIS (STAR-RISs) in particular have garnered significant attention due to their dual capabilities of simultaneous transmission and reflection, underscoring their potential applications in critical scenarios within the forthcoming sixth-generation (6G) technology landscape. Moreover, full-duplex (FD) systems have emerged as a breakthrough research direction in wireless transmission technology due to their high spectral efficiency. This paper explores the application potential of STAR-RIS in FD systems for future wireless communications, presenting an innovative technology that provides robust self-interference cancellation (SIC) capabilities for FD systems. We utilize the refraction functionality of STAR-RIS enhances the transmission capacity of FD systems, while its reflection functionality is used to eliminate self interference within the FD system. We delve into the applications of two different types of STAR-RIS in FD systems and compare their performance through simulations. Furthermore, we discuss the performance differences of STAR-RIS empowered FD systems under various configurations in a case study, and demonstrate the superiority of the proposed deep learning-based optimization algorithm. Finally, we discuss possible future research directions for STAR-RIS empowered FD systems.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2024

Spectral-isolated photonic topological corner mode with a tunable mode area and stable frequency

Emergent collective modes in lattices give birth to many intriguing physical phenomena in condensed matter physics. Among these collective modes, large-area modes typically feature small-level spacings, while a mode with stable frequency tends to be spatially tightly confined. Here, we theoretically propose and experimentally demonstrate a spectral-isolated photonic topological corner mode with a tunable mode area and stable frequency in a two-dimensional photonic crystal. This mode emerges from hybridizing the large-area homogeneous mode and in-gap topological corner modes. Remarkably, this large-area homogeneous mode possesses unique chirality and has a tunable mode area under the change of the mass term of the inner topological non-trivial lattice. We experimentally observe such topological large-area corner modes(TLCM) in a 2D photonic system and demonstrate the robustness by introducing disorders in the structure. Our findings have propelled the forefront of higher-order topology research, transitioning it from single-lattice systems to multi-lattice systems. They may support promising potential applications, particularly in vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2024

Latency-Aware Generative Semantic Communications with Pre-Trained Diffusion Models

Generative foundation AI models have recently shown great success in synthesizing natural signals with high perceptual quality using only textual prompts and conditioning signals to guide the generation process. This enables semantic communications at extremely low data rates in future wireless networks. In this paper, we develop a latency-aware semantic communications framework with pre-trained generative models. The transmitter performs multi-modal semantic decomposition on the input signal and transmits each semantic stream with the appropriate coding and communication schemes based on the intent. For the prompt, we adopt a re-transmission-based scheme to ensure reliable transmission, and for the other semantic modalities we use an adaptive modulation/coding scheme to achieve robustness to the changing wireless channel. Furthermore, we design a semantic and latency-aware scheme to allocate transmission power to different semantic modalities based on their importance subjected to semantic quality constraints. At the receiver, a pre-trained generative model synthesizes a high fidelity signal using the received multi-stream semantics. Simulation results demonstrate ultra-low-rate, low-latency, and channel-adaptive semantic communications.

cs.IT↗

arXiv2024

Magnetically tunable optical bound states in the continuum with arbitrary polarization and intrinsic chirality

Optical bound states in the continuum (BICs), which are exotic localized eigenstates embedded in the continuum spectrum and topological polarization singularity in momentum space, have attracted great attentions in both fundamental and applied physics. Here, based on magneto-optical photonic crystal slab placed in external magnetic fields to break the time-reversal symmetry, we theoretically demonstrate magnetically tunable BICs with arbitrary polarization covering the entire Poincaré sphere and efficient off-Γ chiral emission of circularly polarized states. More interestingly, by further breaking the in-plane inversion symmetry of the magneto-optical photonic crystal slab to generate a pair of circularly polarized states (C point) spawning from the eliminated BICs and tuning the external magnetic field strength to move one C point to the Γ point, one at-Γ intrinsic chiral BICs with near-unity circular dichroism exceeding 0.99 and a high quality factor of 46000 owning to the preserved out-of-plane mirror symmetry can be observed. These findings may lead to a plethora of potential applications in chiral-optical effects, structured light, and tunable optical devices.

physics.optics↗