Zhen Peng of University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign

Abstract – Even though we are seeking the highest possible fidelity, the computer representation
will not be the same compared to the real world. These uncertainties may arise from imprecise
knowledge of the system, small differences in manufacturing, or numerical errors in the simulations.
For integrable, regular wave systems, these small differences can be considered as local
perturbations of the entire system. Hence, the numerical solution is still a very good approximation
to the exact solution of the physical problem. However, the situation can be quite different in nonintegrable,
wave-chaotic systems. The electromagnetic (EM) wave solutions can be extremely
sensitive to details and initial conditions.
Wave chaos concerns solutions of wave equations, which in the semiclassical limit or shortwavelength
limit can be described by chaotic ray trajectories. One class of wave-chaotic problems is
confined EM systems, e.g., the antennas and electronics within large and complicated enclosures.
Wave propagation may undergo multiple reflections/scattering from boundaries and internal
structures, thus leading to randomized phase, polarization, and direction of wave fields. In the short
wavelength limit, the wave scattering process may exhibit chaotic ray dynamics, albeit the underline
wave equation is linear. The extreme sensitivity and nonequilibrium nature make it a challenging task
to analyze the statistical behavior of the EM devices - environment interaction.
In this talk, we will discuss a new methodology based on the stochastic Green’s function (SGF)
method. The SGF can be considered as a physics-oriented, statistical surrogate model for the
solution of Maxwell’s Equations in the wave-chaotic media, derived from the physics of wave-chaotic
dynamics and the mathematics of Wigner’s random matrix theory (RMT). Compared to existing
statistical EM modeling approaches, the SGF rigorously resolves the coherent and incoherent
propagations within a comprehensive form. Recently, we have also advanced the theory of SGF from
the spatial domain (narrowband) to the spatio-temporal domain. The resulting space-time SGF
characterizes both spatial and temporal variations and correlations of EM fields in high-frequency
reverberation within confined EM environments.
The work accomplishes a physics-oriented, mathematically tractable statistical wave model with
diverse applications, including the mode-stirred reverberation chamber, information transmission in
wave-chaotic indoor channels, statistical design of time-reversal systems, wavefront shaping and
focusing, sensing and targeting.

Biography:

Bio – Dr. Zhen Peng is currently an Associate Professor at the Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering (ECE ILLINOIS), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He received a Ph.D. degree in
electromagnetics and microwave engineering from the Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China, in 2008.
From 2008 to 2013, he was with the ElectroScience Laboratory, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA,
first as a Postdoctoral Fellow, from 2008 to 2009, and then as a Senior Research Associate, from 2010 to 2013.
From 2013 to 2019, he was an Assistant Professor with the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
at the University of New Mexico (UNM), Albuquerque, NM, USA.
His research interests are in the areas of computational, statistical, and applied electromagnetics. The goal is to
simulate classical and quantum electrodynamic physics with intelligent algorithms on state-of-the-art computers,
where virtual experiments can be performed for the prediction, discovery, and design of complex systems at
unprecedented scales. The applications of his research work include advanced antennas, radio frequency
integrated circuits, electromagnetic interference and compatibility, signal and power integrity, and wireless
communication.
Dr. Peng is a recipient of the 2022 16th European Conference on Antennas and Propagation Best
Electromagnetics Paper Award, 2021 30th Conference on Electrical Performance of Electronic Packaging and
Systems (EPEPS) Best Conference Paper Award, 2019 IEEE Electromagnetic Compatibility Symposium Best
Paper Award, 2019 EPEPS Best Conference Paper Award, 2018 National Science Foundation CAREER Award,
2018 Best Transaction Paper Award - IEEE Transactions on Components, Packaging and Manufacturing
Technology, 2017 IEEE Albuquerque Section Outstanding Young Engineer Award, 2016 UNM Electrical and
Computer Engineering Department’s Distinguished Researcher Award, 2015 Applied Computational
Electromagnetics Society Early Career Award, 2014 IEEE Antenna and Propagation Sergei A. Schelkunoff
Transactions Prize Paper Award, multiple Young Scientist Awards and the advisor of 12 Best Student Paper
Awards to date from various conferences.

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