Student Spotlight Seminar MTT-S/Photonics
This seminar will include three UVA graduate student talks. One from MTT-S UVA Chapter on FMCW research and the other two from IEEE Photonics UVA Chapter.
FMCW Radar: From Chirp Waveform to System Architecture and Applications
Mohan Zhao - University of Virginia
FMCW radar enables simultaneous range and velocity measurement through a simple continuous-wave architecture, making it the dominant sensing modality in automotive, healthcare, and industrial applications. This talk covers the essentials: the linear chirp waveform and beat frequency derivation, the RF transceiver chain from PLL/VCO through mixer and ADC front-end, the signal processing pipeline (range/Doppler FFT, CFAR, angle estimation), and a survey of application domains including 77 GHz automotive MIMO radar, non-contact vital sign monitoring, and emerging mmWave imaging systems. Hardware design trade-offs — phase noise, chirp linearity, mixer IIP3 — and their impact on radar performance will be emphasized throughout.
Thin absorber AlInAsSb 2-μm SACM APDs with photon-trapping gratings
Hannaneh Karimi - University of Virginia
In the extended short-wavelength infrared (eSWIR) spectral window, high-sensitivity detectors are key components for various low-light-level imaging and sensing applications, including eye-safe LIDAR. This talk presents low-room-temperature dark-current AlxIn1-xAsySb1-y avalanche photodiodes (APDs) that operate at 2 µm by using a thin absorber. To compensate for the low external quantum efficiency (EQE) in thin absorbers, we have fabricated 2D metal grating structures on SACM APDs with absorber layers ranging from 50 to 400 nm. We have resolved the issue of non-vertical side-wall angles in fabricated nanopillars by overcoating the sample with an index-matching liquid. Additionally, the highest EQE was achieved by optimizing the input polarization. The Noise Equivalent Power (NEP) results of the designed structure are comparable to the HgCdTe at a temperature of 200K.
Heterogeneous Integration of Photodiodes on Thin-Film Lithium Niobate Waveguides
Mohammadhassan Maghsoudian - University of Virginia
We present heterogeneously integrated photodiodes on thin-film lithium niobate with low dark current and a responsivity of 0.3 A/W for a 10 × 20 µm² active area, making them ideal for high-bandwidth applications.
Date and Time
Location
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85 Engineers Way
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Charlottesville, Virginia
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United States
22904
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Building:
Thornton
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Room Number:
E-316
- Starts
10 March 2026 04:00 AM UTC
- Ends
14 April 2026 04:00 AM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Hannaneh Karimi
Biography:
Hannaneh Karimi received her B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Shariaty Technical University in 2019 and her M. S. degree in Micro and Nanoelectronics at the University of Tehran, Iran, in 2022. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Virginia. Her research focuses on the fabrication and characterization of thin absorber AlInAsSb 2-μm SACM APDs, as well as the Monte Carlo simulation of photodetectors.
Address:United States
Mohammad Maghsoudian
Biography:
Mohammadhassan Maghsoudian received an M.Sc. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran, in 2022. Since 2024, he has been pursuing a Ph.D. in electrical engineering at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA. His research interests include fiber optics and integrated photonics.
Address:United States
Mohan Zhao
Biography:
Mohan Zhao received her B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Tongji University, China, in 2023 and her M. Sc. degree in Communications and Signal Processing at Imperial College London, UK, in 2024. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. In Computer Engineering at the University of Virginia. Her research focuses on the wireless hardware and wireless computing with medical applications.
