Research — Zhaolin Wang

Site-Specific Learning for Wireless Networks via Digital Twins

This research explores the integration of digital twins with machine learning to enable site-specific optimization in wireless networks. By leveraging high-fidelity virtual representations of physical spaces, we develop efficient learning frameworks that significantly improve communication and sensing performance. Unlike conventional machine learning approaches that rely on generalized datasets or statistical channel models for broad applicability, our models exploit the precise spatial and electromagnetic characteristics of a given environment. By prioritizing local accuracy over generic solutions, these digital twin-driven, site-specific models generate highly tailored, robust, and efficient network configurations, bridging the gap between theoretical models and real-world deployment.

Wireless Digital Twins

Fidelity Where it Matters: Site-Specific Nonuniform Refinement for Wireless Digital Twins
Z. Zhou, Z. Wang, and Y. Liu,
arXiv preprint arXiv:2605.08772, 2026.

Site-Specific Beamforming

Generative Site-Specific Beamforming for Next-Generation Spatial Intelligence
Z. Wang, Z. Zhou, C. J. Zhao, and Y. Liu,
IEEE Communications Magazine, 2026.
Beam-Brainstorm: A Generative Site-Specific Beamforming Approach
Z. Zhou, Z. Wang, and Y. Liu,
arXiv preprint arXiv:2601.02219, 2026.
Generative Site-Specific Beamforming via Information-Maximizing Codebook
C. J. Zhao, Z. Wang, and Y. Liu,
arXiv preprint arXiv:2602.12552, 2026.
Fast Beam-Brainstorm: Few-Step Generative Site-Specific Beamforming with Flexible Probing
Z. Zhou, Z. Wang, and Y. Liu,
arXiv preprint arXiv:2603.17622, 2026.
Bridging Standardized Codebook and Site-Specific Beamforming: A Unified Limited-Feedback Framework
C. J. Zhao, Z. Wang, Z. Zhao, and Y. Liu,
arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.14524, 2026.
Beyond Type-II: Site-Specific Subspace Inference for Efficient CSI Feedback
C. J. Zhao, Z. Wang, Z. Zhao, and Y. Liu,
The 2nd Workshop of AI4NextG: AI and ML for Next-Generation Wireless at ICML, 2026.
SiFo: Wireless Foundation Model for Low-Overhead Site-Specific CSI Feedback
C. J. Zhao, Z. Wang, Z. Zhao, and Y. Liu,
arXiv preprint arXiv:2605.16141, 2026.
Generative Site-Specific Beamforming for UPAs via Decoupled Channel Sensing
Y. Tang and Z. Wang,
arXiv preprint arXiv:2606.22522, 2026.
Site-Specific Learning for Low-Overhead Multi-User MIMO Beamforming
C. J. Zhao, Z. Wang, Z. Zhao, and Y. Liu,
arXiv preprint arXiv:2607.10746, 2026.

Electromagnetic Signal and Information Theory

This research direction focuses on unveiling the fundamental limits of communication systems derived from electromagnetic principles and developing electromagnetically consistent communication models, signal processing techniques, and optimization algorithms. By bridging classic information theory with advanced electromagnetic wave propagation models, we aim to design new communication and sensing strategies for next-generation wireless networks. A key emphasis is characterizing the degrees of freedom, capacity limits, and beamforming designs for spatially continuous apertures, as well as exploiting near-field spherical-wave properties.

Magazine and Tutorial

Electromagnetic Signal and Information Theory: A Continuous-Aperture Array Perspective
Z. Wang, C. Ouyang, K. R. R. Ranasinghe, S. S. A. Yuan, G. T. F. de Abreu, E. Björnson, and Y. Liu,
arXiv preprint arXiv:2605.12910, 2026.
A Primer on Near-Field Communications for Next-Generation Multiple Access
C. Ouyang, Z. Wang, Y. Chen, X. Mu, and P. Zhu,
Proceedings of the IEEE, 2024.
CAPA: Continuous-Aperture Arrays for Revolutionizing 6G Wireless Communications
Y. Liu, C. Ouyang, Z. Wang, J. Xu, X. Mu, and Z. Ding,
IEEE Wireless Communications, 2025.

Communication Systems

1-bit Quantized Continuous Aperture Arrays
K. R. R. Ranasinghe, G. Rexhepi, Z. Wang, and G. T. F. de Abreu,
arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.01780, 2026.
Mutual Coupling in Continuous Aperture Arrays: Physical Modeling and Beamforming Design
Z. Wang, K. R. R. Ranasinghe, G. T. F. de Abreu, and Y. Liu,
IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 2026.
Beamforming Design for Continuous Aperture Array (CAPA)-Based MIMO Systems
Z. Wang, C. Ouyang, and Y. Liu,
IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 2026.
Doubly-Dispersive Continuous MIMO Systems: Channel Modeling and Beamforming Design
K. R. R. Ranasinghe, Z. Wang, H. S. Rou, G. T. F. de Abreu, and E. Björnson,
IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 2026.
Flexible Continuous Aperture Arrays
K. R. R. Ranasinghe, Z. Wang, G. T. F. de Abreu, and E. Björnson,
arXiv preprint arXiv:2511.09244, 2025.
Linear Receive Beamforming for CAPA Systems
C. Ouyang, Z. Wang, X. Zhang, and Y. Liu,
IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 2025.
Diversity and Multiplexing for Continuous Aperture Array (CAPA)-Based Communications
C. Ouyang, Z. Wang, X. Zhang, and Y. Liu,
IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 2025.
Optimal Beamforming for Multi-User Continuous Aperture Array (CAPA) Systems
Z. Wang, C. Ouyang, and Y. Liu,
IEEE Transactions on Communications, 2025.
Beamforming Optimization for Continuous Aperture Array (CAPA)-based Communications
Z. Wang, C Ouyang, and Y. Liu,
IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 2025.

Sensing Systems

Extended-Target Classification and Localization for Near-Field ISAC
Z. Zhao, Z. Wang, L. Han, J. Jin, Y. Liu, and K. Huang,
arXiv preprint arXiv:2603.23093, 2026.
Cramér-Rao Bound Optimization for Near-Field Sensing with Continuous-Aperture Arrays
H. Jiang, Z. Wang, Y. Liu and A. Nallanathan,
IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 2026.
Optimal Waveform Design for Continuous Aperture Array (CAPA)-Aided ISAC Systems
J. Ye, Z. Wang, Y. Liu, P. Zhang, L. Huang, and A. Nallanathan,
IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 2026.
Joint DOA and Attitude Sensing Based on Tri-Polarized Continuous Aperture Array
H. Si, Z. Wang, X. Guo, J. Zhang, and Y. Liu,
arXiv preprint arXiv:2510.02029, 2025.
DOA Estimation via Continuous Aperture Arrays: MUSIC and CRLB
H. Si, Z. Wang, X. Guo, J. Zhang, and Y. Liu,
IEEE Transactions on Wireless Communications, 2026.