Xi-Cheng Zhang
J. Erik Jonsson '22 Professor of Science
Professor, Physics, Applied Physics, and Astronomy
Professor, Electrical, Computer & System Engineering

Education
B.S., Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China, 1982
M.S., Physics, Brown University, 1983
Ph.D., Physics, Brown University, 1986

Career Highlights:
Dr. Zhang has received 13 patents, 12 patents pending and numerous awards including the National Science Foundation's CAREER award, Rensselaer Early Career Award, Research Corporation's Cottrell Award, and China's Outstanding Scholar Award. He is a Fellow of IEEE, the Optical Society of America, the American Physics Society, and World Innovation Foundation. He joined RPI in 1992 and has held faculty positions at Xiamen University, Institute of Physics, Institute of Fine Machines and Optics, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Science, Capital Normal University of Beijing, and the Shanghai University.

Research Areas:

• Terahertz Optics Sensing
• Terahertz Optics Imaging

Terahertz Optics Sensing
Zhang's work with time-domain THz spectroscopy systems holds promise for diagnostics of materials such as semiconductors and biomolecules. THz time-domain spectroscopy uses short pulses of broadband THz radiation, typically generated using ultrafast laser pulses. The transmitted THz electric field is measured coherently, which provides both high sensitivity and time-resolved phase information.

Terahertz Optics Imaging
Zhang's interest in THz wave imaging is a result of the availability of phase-sensitive spectroscopic images. These images, called "functional images," are ideal for dry dielectric substances including paper, plastics, and ceramics. Zhang's research centers on two-dimensional THz wave imaging through free-space electro-optic detection and on THz ray, or T-ray, imaging for probing the dielectric properties of three-dimensional structures.

Select Publications
X. Xie, J. Dai, and X.-C. Zhang, "Coherent Control of THz Wave Generation in Ambient Air," Physical Review Letters, 96, 075005 (2006).

X. Xie, J. Xu, and X.-C. Zhang, "Terahertz Generation from CdTe Crystal Characterized by Excitation Frequency," Optics Letters, 31, 978 (2006).

K. Liu, J. Xu, T. Yuan, and X.-C. Zhang, "THz Radiation from InAs Induced by Carrier Diffusion and Drift," Physical Review B, in press (2006).

J. Xu, and X.-C. Zhang, "Terahertz Wave Reciprocal Imaging," Applied Physics Letters, in press(2006).

H. Liu, Y. Chen, G. J. Bastiaans, and X.-C. Zhang, "Detection and Identification of Explosive RDX by THz Diffuse Reflection Spectroscopy," Optical Express, 14, 415 (2006).

H. Liu, G. Plopper, S. Earley, Y. Chen, B. Ferguson, and X.-C. Zhang, "Sensing Minute Changes in Biological Cell Monolayers with THz Differential Time-domain Spectroscopy," Biosensor and Bioelectronics, in press (2006).

N. Karpowicz, H. Zhong, C. Zhang, K. Lin, J. Hwang, J. Xu, and X.-C. Zhang, "Compact Continuous Sub Terahertz System for Inspection Application," Applied Physics Letters, 86, 054105 (2005).

H. Zhong, J. Xu, X. Xie, T. Yuan, R. Reightler, E. Madaras, and X.-C. Zhang, " Nondestructive Defect Identification with Terahertz Time-of-Flight Tomography," IEEE Sensor, 5, 203 (2005).

Y. Chen, H. Liu, Y. Deng, D. Schauki, M. J. Fitch, R. Osiander, C. Dodson, J. B. Spicer, M. Shur, and X.-C. Zhang, "THz Spectroscopic Investigation of 2,4-Dinitrotoluene," Chemical Physics Letters, 400, 357 (2004).

J. Xu, and X.-C. Zhang, "Circular Involute Stage," Optics Letters, 29, 2082 (2004).

K. Liu, J. Xu, and X.-C. Zhang,"GaSe Crystal for Broadband Terahertz Wave Detection,"Applied Physics Letters, 85, 863 (2004).

T. Yuan, J. Xu, and X.-C. Zhang, "Development of Terahertz Wave Microscopes," Infrared Physics and Technology, 45, 417 (2004).

Contact Information:
Xi-Cheng Zhang
Professor, Department of Physics, Applied Physics and Astronomy
Professor, Department of Electrical, Computer and System Engineering
Erik Jonsson Chair Professor of Science
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
110 8th Street
Troy, NY 12180-3590 USA

(518) 276-3079
zhangxc@rpi.edu
Personal Web Page: http://www.rpi.edu/~zhangxc

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