Fall 2020 University Professor - Dr. Timothy Schulz | Michigan Tech Research Forum

|October 14, 2020|Theme: Direct Measurements|

Timothy J. Schulz

Lecturer

University Professor Timothy Schulz, Electrical And Computer Engineering.

Topic

Direct Measurement of Coherent Fields | View Dr. Timothy Schulz's presentation | Passcode: v&c8YdKD

Research Statement

In 1948, Dennis Gabor introduced a remote-sensing method he called holography, based on the Greek words holos—meaning “whole”—and graphe—meaning “writing”. As the name implies, holography is a method for recording both the amplitude and phase of an electromagnetic field, not just the physically-observable intensity. Like Gabor’s original invention, most subsequent techniques for recording the entire field—rather than only its intensity—utilize a reference field. Phase retrieval refers to an alternative class of methods that record the entire field from the intensities of linear transforms of the field, without the need for an external reference. Whereas conventional methods of phase-retrieval have had limited success, new computational methods based on multi-path interferometry and coded sensing have the potential to revolutionize the way we make direct measurements of coherent fields.

Six Questions with University Professor Timothy Schulz

You focus your work on statistical signal processing. How did you come to choose this focus? Or, did it choose you?

I liked applying theoretical concepts to practical applications, so statistical signal processing was a natural area for me to choose.

How do your research and teaching complement each other?

Many of the courses I teach cover topics that are core to my research, so, in many ways, the transition between the two activities is seamless.

What has changed the most in your field over the past decade (or two)?

The most significant change—far and away—has been the advance in computation. Many of the algorithms that researchers proposed a few decades ago were viewed as too complex for practical implementation. Today, those algorithms are widely used.

What is the biggest challenge in your fields of expertise?

Balancing the mathematics with the practical aspects of the systems. I like to joke that all of my colleagues in the application communities believe I’m too mathematical, and all of my colleagues in the mathematical communities believe I’m too applied. It’s a challenge, but I think it’s a good place to be.

How does Michigan Tech work for you as a home base?

On one hand, the College of Engineering is relatively large and has a lot of advantages that come with that; on the other hand, the University is relatively small with a lot of advantages that come with that. I think it is a great mix.

What's next in your research?

Changing the way people view the direct measurement of coherent fields.