Welcome!
In today's fast-moving world of information technology, we're facing increasingly complex challenges around how information is gathered, processed, and used. Our research group focuses on developing photonic technologies that offer practical, innovative, and scalable solutions to these problems. We work across a range of advanced areas, including ultrafast optics, optical frequency combs, quantum optics, optical information processing, mid-infrared photonics, and spectroscopy.
Our approach combines powerful laser systems, micro- and nano-fabrication techniques, new materials, and computational theory. At the core of our work is a hands-on commitment to building and testing new nonlinear photonic systems, with the goal of pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in modern optics.
News
October 2025
🚀 Breakthroughs in Integrated Photonics Highlighted at MOC 2025
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At the Microoptics Conference (MOC 2025) held in Utsunomiya, Japan, Dr. Heidari delivered an Invited Talk titled “Boosting Photonic Computing Efficiency with Photonic Memory and Energy-Efficient ADC/DAC Design.”
Her presentation showcased recent progress on integrating photonic memory with low-power electronic interfaces, a breakthrough that enhances computing efficiency and enables chip-scale photonic systems operating from the near-infrared to visible spectrum for precision timing and sensing applications.
Dr. Heidari also served as Session Chair for “Optical Sensing Enabled by Integrated Photonics,” which highlighted state-of-the-art advances in compact, sensitive, and scalable photonic platforms for next-generation sensing technologies.
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Read more: (1) Post | Feed | LinkedIn
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Sep 2025
🚀 NASA-Funded Collaboration on Quantum-Enabled Sensing
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​Our team, led by Prof. Heidari, is collaborating with UF and Relative Dynamics Inc. on a project recently funded by NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). This effort aims to expand the sensitivity of gravitational wave observatories, including LIGO and the planned space-based LISA mission, while also advancing applications in quantum magnetometry, fiber-optic gyroscopes, and biological imaging.
Read more in UF ECE News:
Aug 2025
🚀 Excited to share our IEEE Access publication on BAM-Net!
We introduce a hardware-efficient binarization that keeps only the dominant positive weight per row, enabling NAND-only implementation. BAM-Net cuts memory by >50%, converges faster, and achieves 96.2% recall (synthetic) and 92.7% (MNIST).
July 2025
🎉🎉🎉Tongyao Wu has successfully passed his PhD proposal defense and is now officially a PhD Candidate.
His research project, “High-Bandwidth Photonic Devices for Optical AI Interconnects and Computation”, focuses on pushing the frontiers of optical interconnects and computing for next-generation AI hardware.
Congratulations to him on this important milestone—looking forward to many more groundbreaking results ahead!
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Jun 2025
🎤 Our team presented our collaborative research with TSMC at GRC Annual Review, Celebration & Transition to SMART USA!
Learn more at the link below:
May 2025
🎤Our group presented cutting-edge research in quantum sensing and photonic AI hardware at CLEO 2025! Topics included OAM-squeezed light for quantum sensing, ITO-based optical logic for neural acceleration, and ultra-low-energy EP modulators.
Learn more at the link below:
April 2025
🚀Heidari's recent article, "Tunable Laser Using Transverse Cavity Surface Emitting Laser Working Near Exceptional Point," was published in ACS Photonics and selected for the Rising Stars in Photonics Virtual Special Issue—highlighting emerging leaders pushing the boundaries of photonics innovation.
Learn more at the link below:
Jan 2025
🎤 📊 Tongyao joined to the SPIE Photonics West 2025 as the presenter of our new work "Using Optical-Electronic Neural Network for Demultiplexing OAM-Coded Signals" in the session "Quantum Effects and Information". This work innovatively integrates Fourier optics convolution with intensity-based recognition to efficiently demultiplex OAM beams, offering a promising advancement for high-capacity free-space optical communications.
2024
Our latest work, "Comprehensive Study and Design of Graphene Transistors," is now out. The paper covers fabrication techniques, quality assessment, and doping effects in graphene FETs—paving the way for next-gen electronics.
Read the full paper:
2023
Heidari has received a $300K grant from AFWERX for her project, “Emerging Trends in High-Capacity Optical Transceivers.” The work focuses on developing a high-speed electro-optical modulator for next-gen photonic integrated circuits (PICs).
Read the full news:
Heidari Receives AFWERX Grant for Advancement of Photonics Technology – ECE Florida News