Yiran Guan’s research in microwave photonics is bringing us closer than ever before to ultrafast communication.
His work aims to achieve unprecedented signal generation speeds. He has developed a system capable of generating arbitrary waveforms beyond tera samples per second, promising significant advances in wireless communication systems and imaging technologies.
We sat down with Yiran to learn more about his research and future goals.
What motivated you to pursue research in your field?
Microwave photonics is a promising technique that utilizes photonic systems to generate, process, transmit and control microwave signals. Thanks to the inherent high speed and broadband offered by modern photonics, the use of photonic technology to generate arbitrary microwave waveforms is expected to break the speed limit of purely electronic arbitrary waveform generators, which is significant to many applications.
Can you tell us more about your research?
By using an ultrafast laser and a fibre ring with slightly detuned free spectral ranges, a temporal Vernier caliper is implemented in a photonic system. The photonic temporal Vernier caliper enables the generation of arbitrary waveforms beyond tera sample per second. This has great commercial readiness and shows considerable promise for applications in autonomous driving and wireless communications systems.
Photonic generation of microwave arbitrary waveforms enables speeds beyond tera sample per second, which is an order of magnitude higher than the electronic counterparts and will extensively promote the detection range, transmission efficiency and resolution in radar, optical communications and biological imaging, respectively.
What are your career aspirations?
Photonics shows great advantages in the generation of high-speed and high-quality microwave waveforms. I’m dreaming of developing a fully integrated arbitrary waveform generator with a speed of tera sample per second and better commercial readiness in the future using the silicon integration technique.
Photonics for devices, networks and energy
Yiran Guan’s research earned him first place in the photonics for devices, networks and energy category at the 2024 Engineering and Computer Science Graduate Poster Competition held at the Faculty of Engineering.
Supervised by Professor Jianping Yao, Yiran aims to redefine what’s possible in communication technology. By pushing the limits of microwave photonics, he’s striving to unlock new realms of speed and efficiency that will empower the future of global connectivity.
The Faculty of Engineering conducts research in five areas of focus, including photonics for devices, networks and energy.
This article is part of our series on 2024 Engineering and Computer Science Graduate Poster Competition winners.
