Our research group is dedicated to the study of structured light physics and its applications in frontier fields. We focus on the propagation characteristics of structured light in real-world complex environments, such as atmospheric turbulence and scattering media. Based on this, we explore new principles and methods for next-generation optical communications, intelligent sensing, and advanced imaging. We encourage original scientific exploration and directly address the key challenges in this domain.
If you have a strong interest in structured light physics and its interdisciplinary applications and are committed to rigorous scientific research, we invite you to learn more about our group.
【About Me: Mingjian Cheng】
Position: Associate Professor, Ph.D. Supervisor, School of Physics.
Background: I received my Ph.D. from Xidian University and was a visiting scholar at the University of Glasgow, UK. I am currently a core member of the "Research Team for Optoelectronic Information Sensing of Targets and Environments" (an innovation team supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Shaanxi Province).
Research Focus: My long-term research is centered on the modulation, propagation, and application of structured light fields, with a particular emphasis on their characterization and correction in complex environments.
【Research Platform & International Collaboration】
Our group provides a high-starting-point, international environment for graduate students. We maintain a long-term and substantive collaboration with Prof. Andrew Forbes, a Fellow of the South African Academy of Science and a world-renowned expert in structured light (currently a "Huashan Chair Professor" at our university). This means that by joining us, you will have:
Joint Supervision: Opportunities to be co-supervised by me and Prof. Andrew Forbes, gaining direct exposure to cutting-edge ideas and research methodologies in the field.
International Exchange: We support and recommend outstanding graduate students for short-term research visits to the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, to participate in international collaborative projects.
Academic Network: Through our international partnerships, students can naturally integrate into a global academic community and establish connections with researchers worldwide.
【Research Foundation & Recent Work】
Our research is built upon a solid theoretical and experimental foundation, with a commitment to systematic and innovative outcomes.
Funding: As PI or a core member, I lead and participate in multiple projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and other provincial/ministerial key programs, which provide stable and sufficient support for our research.
Recent Representative Work (2025):
Reviews & Commentaries:
eLight (2025, IF: 32.1): Optical skyrmions (Invited commentary).
Light: Science & Applications (2025, IF: 23.4): Optical metrology based on orbital angular momentum (Invited review).
Turbulence Characterization & Machine Learning:
Photonics Research (2025, IF: 7.2)
Communications Physics (2025, IF: 5.4)
Propagation in Complex Media:
Optics Express (2 papers, 2025, IF: 3.3): A series of studies on the propagation of structured light through turbulence and scattering media.
【Ph.D. & M.S. Student Training Philosophy】
We are committed to cultivating young scholars with the ability to conduct independent research, rigorous scientific thinking, and a broad international perspective.
Comprehensive Research Training: We emphasize the integrity of the research process. You will be deeply involved in the entire workflow—from topic conception and theoretical analysis to experimental validation—to progressively build the capacity for independent research.
Rigorous Academic Atmosphere: The group fosters a strong research culture where members motivate each other and advance together. Students we have supervised have received the National Scholarship (e.g., Wenjie Jiang, Ph.D. candidate, class of 2025), and undergraduate innovation projects under our guidance have been rated "Excellent" at the national level.
Teaching and Learning: I teach core courses such as "Numerical Methods," "Computational Physics," and "Theory of Structured Light Fields." I welcome academic discussions both inside and outside the classroom.
【What We Look For in a Candidate】
We are seeking Master's and Ph.D. students who are highly interested in structured light, optical communications, intelligent remote sensing, and advanced imaging. We hope you possess the following qualities:
An intrinsic curiosity for scientific questions.
A solid foundation in mathematics and physics, along with the ability for proactive learning.
Good communication skills and a spirit of teamwork.
If you are interested in our group's research direction and are prepared to commit to it, you are welcome to contact me via phone or email.
