headshot of Kevin P. Chen

Kevin P. Chen

Paul E. Lego Professor and Vice Chair for Research
Group Webpage Electrical and Computer Engineering

overview

Professor Chen’s research group performs interdisciplinary research in optics science and photonic engineering.

We develop innovative laser technology for advanced manufacturing and clean energy production; distributed optical sensors for energy and robotics applications; photonic integrated circuits for compact optical system developments; distributed sensor enabled artificial intelligence data analytics and digital twins; and sensor fused additive manufacturing.

Our research group is superiorly equipped with both world-class research equipment and highly capable innovators. This powerful combination enables us to produce high-impact scientific knowledge, highly valuable intellectual properties, mission-critical product prototypes, and important technology know-how for our national lab and industry partners.

Unlike a "conventional" optics group, our research team includes highly trained researchers with diverse technical backgrounds in laser, fiber optics, material sciences, renewable energy, electronics and FPGA, mechatronics, radar and imaging processing, and machine learning. This diversity keeps us open-minded and drives interdisciplinary innovations. As a collaboration friendly and inclusive research team, Professor Chen works with 14 highly motivated researchers including 5 female PhD and PDF researchers. Our group is well-known in industry for strong capabilities in reel-to-reel fabrication of distributed fiber sensors and in the development turn-key fiber sensor interrogation instruments for advanced energy systems..

about

(2019) Best Poster Award won by my student Mohan Wang in 2019 IEEE Photonics Conference.

(2018) 2nd Prize ($15,000) Randall Family Big Idea Competition won by my students (Shuo Li, Aidong Yan, and Ran Zou).

(2018) 3rd Prize ($5,000) Randall Family Big Idea Competition won by my students (Mohan Wang and Jingyu Wu).

(2017) Carnegie Science Award for Energy Innovation.

(2017) 2017 Carnegie Science Award in Advanced Materials and Manufacturing (with National Energy Technology Lab).

(2015 - 2025) Paul E. Lego Chair Professor.

(2007) NSF CAREER Award.

(2004 - 2014) Paul E. Lego Faculty Fellow.

PhD, Electrical Engineering, University of Toronto, 2002

MS, Physics, University of British Columbia, 1998

BS, Control Science and Physics, Xiamen University, 1994

Badar, M., Lu, Q., Wang, T., Boyer, T., & Ohodnicki, P.R. (2020). Real-Time Optical Fiber-Based Distributed Temperature Monitoring of Insulation Oil-Immersed Commercial Distribution Power Transformer. IEEE Sensors Journal.Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. doi: 10.1109/JSEN.202.3024943.

Cao, R., Ding, H., Kim, K.J., Peng, Z., Wu, J., Culp, J.T., Ohodnicki, P.R., Beckman, E., & Chen, K.P. (2020). Metal-organic framework functionalized polymer coating for fiber optical methane sensors. SENSORS AND ACTUATORS B-CHEMICAL, 324, 128627.Elsevier BV. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2020.128627.

Cao, R., Wu, J., Liang, G., Ohodnicki, P.R., & Chen, K.P. (2020). Functionalized PdAu Alloy on Nanocones Fabricated on Optical Fibers for Hydrogen Sensing. IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL, 20(4), 1922-1927.Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). doi: 10.1109/JSEN.2019.2950505.

Cao, R., Yang, Y., Wang, M., Yi, X., Wu, J., Huang, S., & Chen, K.P. (2020). Multiplexable intrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric fiber sensors for multipoint hydrogen gas monitoring. OPTICS LETTERS, 45(11), 3163-3166.Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/OL.389433.

Cerjan, A., Wang, M., Huang, S., Chen, K.P., & Rechtsman, M.C. (2020). Thouless pumping in disordered photonic systems. LIGHT-SCIENCE & APPLICATIONS, 9(1), 178.Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi: 10.1038/s41377-020-00408-2.

Chen, R., Peng, Z., Wang, M., Yan, A., Li, S., Huang, S., Li, M.J., & Chen, K.P. (2020). Spatially resolved fibre cavity ring down spectroscopy. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 10(1), 20167.Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-76721-y.

Clark, R.M., Wang, M., Splain, Z.A., & Chen, K.P. (2020). Teaching a Standalone Optics and Lasers Course Using Project-Based Learning. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON EDUCATION, 63(4), 255-262.Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). doi: 10.1109/TE.2020.2976645.

Noh, J., Schuster, T., Iadecola, T., Huang, S., Wang, M., Chen, K.P., Chamon, C., & Rechtsman, M.C. (2020). Braiding photonic topological zero modes. NATURE PHYSICS, 16(9), 989-+.Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi: 10.1038/s41567-020-1007-5.

Peng, Z., Jian, J., Wen, H., Gribok, A., Wang, M., Liu, H., Huang, S., Mao, Z.H., & Chen, K.P. (2020). Distributed fiber sensor and machine learning data analytics for pipeline protection against extrinsic intrusions and intrinsic corrosions. OPTICS EXPRESS, 28(19), 27277-27292.Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/OE.397509.

Peng, Z., Wen, H., Jian, J., Gribok, A., Wang, M., Huang, S., Liu, H., Mao, Z.H., & Chen, K.P. (2020). Identifications and classifications of human locomotion using Rayleigh-enhanced distributed fiber acoustic sensors with deep neural networks. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 21014.Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-77147-2.

Wang, M., Yang, Y., Huang, S., Wu, J., Zhao, K., Li, Y., Peng, Z., Zou, R., Lan, H., Ohodnicki, P.R., Lu, P., Buric, M.P., Liu, B., Yu, Q., & Chen, K.P. (2020). Multiplexable high-temperature stable and low-loss intrinsic Fabry-Perot in-fiber sensors through nanograting engineering. OPTICS EXPRESS, 28(14), 20225-20235.Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/OE.395382.

Wang, M., Zhao, K., Huang, S., Wu, J., Lu, P., Ohodnicki, P.R., Lu, P., Li, M.J., Mihailov, S.J., & Chen, K.P. (2020). Reel-to-Reel Fabrication of In-Fiber Low-Loss and High-Temperature Stable Rayleigh Scattering Centers for Distributed Sensing. IEEE SENSORS JOURNAL, 20(19), 11335-11341.Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). doi: 10.1109/JSEN.2020.2995606.

Yang, Y., Wu, J., Wang, M., Wang, Q., Yu, Q., & Chen, K.P. (2020). Fast Demodulation of Fiber Bragg Grating Wavelength From Low-Resolution Spectral Measurements Using Buneman Frequency Estimation. JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY, 38(18), 5142-5148.Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). doi: 10.1109/JLT.2020.2998614.

Zou, R., Liang, X., Chen, Q., Wang, M., Zaghloul, M.A.S., Lan, H., Buric, M.P., Ohodnicki, P.R., Chorpening, B., To, A.C., & Chen, K.P. (2020). A Digital Twin Approach to Study Additive Manufacturing Processing Using Embedded Optical Fiber Sensors and Numerical Modeling. JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY, 38(22), 6402-6411.Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). doi: 10.1109/JLT.2020.3010722.

Cerjan, A., Huang, S., Wang, M., Chen, K.P., Chong, Y., & Rechtsman, M.C. (2019). Experimental realization of a Weyl exceptional ring. NATURE PHOTONICS, 13(9), 623-+.Springer Science and Business Media LLC. doi: 10.1038/s41566-019-0453-z.

Che, Q., Wen, H., Li, X., Peng, Z., & Chen, K.P. (2019). Partial Discharge Recognition Based on Optical Fiber Distributed Acoustic Sensing and a Convolutional Neural Network. IEEE ACCESS, 7, 101758-101764.Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2931040.

Chen, K., Haggerty, M., Rountree, S., Stuckner, A., & Wang, M. (2019). Fiber Optic Pressure and Temperature Sensors for Gen IV Reactor Environments. Transactions of the American Nuclear Society - Volume 121, 121, 655-658.AMNS. doi: 10.13182/t30675.

Badar, M., Lu, P., Wang, M., Wang, Q., Chen, K.P., Buric, M.P., & Ohodnicki, P.R. (2020). Integrated auxiliary interferometer to correct non-linear tuning errors in OFDR. In Optical Waveguide and Laser Sensors, 11405.SPIE. doi: 10.1117/12.2558910.

Badar, M., Lu, P., Wang, Q., Boyer, T., Chen, K.P., & Ohodnicki, P.R. (2020). Monitoring internal power transformer temperature using distributed optical fiber sensors. In Optical Waveguide and Laser Sensors, 11405.SPIE. doi: 10.1117/12.2559000.

Noh, J., Schuster, T., Iadecola, T., Huang, S., Wang, M., Chen, K.P., Chamon, C., & Rechtsman, M.C. (2020). Experimental observation of braiding topological zero modes in a photonic waveguide array. In Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, Part F182-CLEO-QELS 2020.Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/cleo_qels.2020.fw3a.5.

Wang, M., Huang, S., Wu, J., Zhao, K., Mao, Z.H., & Chen, K.P. (2020). Determination of Femtosecond Laser Direct Written Waveguide Refractive Index Using Machine Learning. In Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, Part F181-CLEO-AT 2020.Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/cleo_at.2020.jw2b.15.

Wang, M., Wu, J., Yang, Y., Zhao, K., Huang, S., Lan, H., Buric, M., Ohodnicki, P., Liu, B., Yu, Q., & Chen, K.P. (2020). Multiplexable Intrinsic Fabry-Perot Cavities using Femtosecond Laser Inscribed Scattering Centers. In Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, Part F181-CLEO-AT 2020.Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/cleo_at.2020.jtu2g.3.

Wang, M., Zhao, K., Huang, S., Yang, Y., Buric, M., Ohodnicki, P., Liu, B., Chorpening, B., & Chen, K.P. (2020). Femtosecond Laser Fabricated Sensor Devices on SingleCrystal Sapphire Optical Fiber. In Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, Part F181-CLEO-AT 2020.Optica Publishing Group. doi: 10.1364/cleo_at.2020.jth2a.7.

Clark, R.M., Wang, M., Zaghloul, M.A.S., Sullivan, S.M., & Chen, K. (2019). Project-based learning of optics and photonics: How to teach a standalone technical elective “niche” course?. In ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings.

Lan, H., Crawford, S., Splain, Z., Boyer, T., Ohodnicki, P., Baltrus, J., Zou, R., Wang, M., & Chen, K.P. (2019). Detection of Rare-Earth Elements Enhanced by Bio-Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Using UV LED. In 2019 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO 2019 - Proceedings. doi: 10.23919/CLEO.2019.8749351.

Lan, H., Crawford, S., Splain, Z., Boyer, T., Ohodnicki, P., Baltrus, J., Zou, R., Wang, M., & Chen, K.P. (2019). Detection of Rare-Earth Elements Enhanced by Bio-Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) Using UV LED. In Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, Part F127-CLEO_AT 2019.OSA. doi: 10.1364/cleo_at.2019.jw2a.14.

Peng, Z., & Chen, K.P. (2019). Methane detection of chirped laser dispersion spectroscopy using DSB-SC modulation. In Terahertz, RF, Millimeter, and Submillimeter-Wave Technology and Applications XII, 10917.SPIE. doi: 10.1117/12.2506917.

Peng, Z., Jian, J., Wang, M., Wang, Q., Boyer, T., Wen, H., Liu, H., Mao, Z.H., & Chen, K.P. (2019). Big Data Analytics on Fiber-Optical Distributed Acoustic Sensing with Rayleigh Enhancements. In 2019 IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC).IEEE. doi: 10.1109/ipcon.2019.8908496.

Peng, Z., Jian, J., Wen, H., Wang, M., Liu, H., Jiang, D., Mao, Z., & Chen, K.P. (2019). Fiber-optical distributed acoustic sensing signal enhancements using ultrafast laser and artificial intelligence for human movement detection and pipeline monitoring. In Optical Data Science II, 10937.SPIE. doi: 10.1117/12.2509875.

Peng, Z., Wang, M., Huang, S., Zou, R., Wu, J., Wang, Q., & Chen, K.P. (2019). Intrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometer Fiber Sensor by Femtosecond Laser Induced Rayleigh Backscattering Enhancement. In 2019 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, CLEO 2019 - Proceedings. doi: 10.23919/CLEO.2019.8749345.

Peng, Z., Wang, M., Huang, S., Zou, R., Wu, J., Wang, Q., & Chen, K.P. (2019). Intrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometer Fiber Sensor by Femtosecond Laser Induced Rayleigh Backscattering Enhancement. In Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, Part F127-CLEO_AT 2019.OSA. doi: 10.1364/cleo_at.2019.af1k.6.

Wang, M., Yang, Y., Huang, S., Wu, J., Yu, Q., & Chen, K.P. (2019). Distributed High-Temperature Sensing with Rayleigh Scattering Based In-Line Fabry-Perot Interferometers. In 2019 IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC).IEEE. doi: 10.1109/ipcon.2019.8908291.

Wu, J., Peng, Z., Wang, M., Cao, R., Li, M.J., Wen, H., Liu, H., & Chen, K.P. (2019). Fabrication of ultra-weak fiber Bragg grating (UWFBG) in single-mode fibers through Ti-doped silica outer cladding for distributed acoustic sensing. In Optics and Photonics for Sensing the Environment - Proceedings Optical Sensors and Sensing Congress (ES, FTS, HISE, Sensors).

Wu, J., Peng, Z., Wang, M., Cao, R., Li, M.J., Wen, H., Liu, H., & Chen, K.P. (2019). Fabrication of Ultra-Weak Fiber Bragg Grating (UWFBG) in Single-Mode Fibers through Ti-Doped Silica Outer Cladding for Distributed Acoustic Sensing. In Optics InfoBase Conference Papers, Part F172-ES 2019.

Yang, Y., Wang, M., Yu, Q., & Chen, K.P. (2019). Intrinsic Fabry-Perot Interferometer for Vibration Measurement by Enhanced Rayleigh Backscattering Dots Fabricated by Femtosecond Laser Inscription. In 2019 IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC).IEEE. doi: 10.1109/ipcon.2019.8908419.

Zaghloul, M., Huang, S., Wang, M., Chen, K., Ohodnicki, P., Buric, M., Lee, S., Hnatovsky, C., Grobnic, D., Mihailov, S., Li, M.J., Carpenter, D., Hu, L.W., & Daw, J. (2019). In-pile applications of fiber Bragg grating sensors and distributed fiber sensors enabled by ultrafast laser fabrications. In 11th Nuclear Plant Instrumentation, Control, and Human-Machine Interface Technologies, NPIC and HMIT 2019, (pp. 1324-1329).

Zaghloul, M.A.S., Hassan, A.M., Carpenter, D., Calderoni, P., Daw, J., & Chen, K.P. (2019). Optical Sensor Behavior Prediction using LSTM Neural Network. In 2019 IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC).IEEE. doi: 10.1109/ipcon.2019.8908337.

Chen, P., Nelsen, B., Zhang, B., & Tarin, T. (2020). "Adaptive optical laser beam steering through endoscope for laser surgery in kidney.". US Patent 10,595,712.

Chen, P., To, A., & Li, S. (2020). "Laser systems enabled by additive manufacturing.". US Patent 10,811,835.

Chen, P., Yan, A., To, A., Buric, M., & Ohodnicki, P. (2020). "Method of making a distributed optical fiber sensor optical fiber having enhanced Rayleigh scattering and enhanced temperature stability, and monitoring systems employing same.". US Patent 10,670,802.

Chen, P., Poole, Z., Buric, M., & Ohodnicki, P. (2019). "Fiber optical sensors employing a metal oxide material". US Patent 10,457,596.

Chen, P., Bayoumy, M.A., Yan, A., & Rongzhang, C. "Optical fiber-based sensing for smart electrical cable and distributed radiation detection.". US Patent to be awarded in (2020).

Research interests

1. Coherent and incoherent...
2. Laser matter interactions for 3D...
3. Distributed fiber sensor enabled...
4. Topologic photonics and 3D...
5. Photonic integrated circuits for...
6. Additive manufacturing (AM):...