Applied Physics

From first-principles modeling to device designs.

Our research in this area uses physics to develop new technologies or solve an engineering problem, including optimal design of freeform optics, metamaterials, photonic and solid-state semiconductor devices; the modeling and analysis of electro-magnetic systems and studies on superconductivity and magnets.

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  • Awards

    •  AWARD    Best Paper Award at SDEMPED 2023
      Date: August 30, 2023
      Awarded to: Bingnan Wang, Hiroshi Inoue, and Makoto Kanemaru
      MERL Contact: Bingnan Wang
      Research Areas: Applied Physics, Data Analytics, Multi-Physical Modeling
      Brief
      • MERL and Mitsubishi Electric's paper titled “Motor Eccentricity Fault Detection: Physics-Based and Data-Driven Approaches” was awarded one of three best paper awards at the 14th IEEE International Symposium on Diagnostics for Electric Machines, Power Electronics and Drives (SDEMPED 2023). MERL Senior Principal Research Scientist Bingnan Wang presented the paper and received the award at the symposium. Co-authors of the paper include Mitsubishi Electric researchers Hiroshi Inoue and Makoto Kanemaru.

        SDEMPED was established as the only international symposium entirely devoted to the diagnostics of electrical machines, power electronics and drives. It is now a regular biennial event. The 14th version, SDEMPED 2023 was held in Chania, Greece from August 28th to 31st, 2023.
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  • News & Events


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  • Internships

    • CI0082: Internship - Quantum AI

      MERL is excited to announce an internship opportunity in the field of Quantum Machine Learning (QML) and Quantum AI (QAI). We are seeking a highly motivated and talented individual to join our research team. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact in the field of quantum computing and AI, with the aim of publishing at leading research venues.

      Responsibilities:

      • Conduct cutting-edge research in quantum machine learning.
      • Collaborate with a team of experts in quantum computing, deep learning, and signal processing.
      • Develop and implement algorithms using PyTorch and PennyLane.
      • Publish research results at leading research venues.

      Qualifications:

      • Currently pursuing a PhD or a post-graduate researcher in a relevant field.
      • Strong background and solid publication records in quantum computing, deep learning, and signal processing.
      • Proficient programming skills in PyTorch and PennyLane are highly desirable.

      What We Offer:

      • An opportunity to work on groundbreaking research in a leading research lab.
      • Collaboration with a team of experienced researchers.
      • A stimulating and supportive work environment.

      If you are passionate about quantum machine learning and meet the above qualifications, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter detailing your research experience and interests. Join us at MERL and contribute to the future of quantum machine learning!

    • MS0102: Internship - Estimation and Calibration of Multi-physical Systems Using Experiments

      MERL is looking for a highly motivated and qualified candidate to work on estimation and calibration of muti-physical systems governed by differential algebraic equations (DAEs). The research will involve study, development and efficient implementation of estimation/calibration approaches for large-scale nonlinear systems, e.g., vapor compression cycles, with limited experimental data. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in one or multiple of the following topics: nonlinear control and estimation, optimization, and model calibration; with expertise demonstrated via, e.g., peer-reviewed publications. Prior experience in working with experimental data, and programming in Julia/Modelica is a plus. Senior PhD students in mechanical, electrical, chemical engineering or related fields are encouraged to apply. The typical duration of internship is 3 months, and the start date is flexible.

      Required Specific Experience

      • Graduate student with 2+ years of relevant research experience

      Additional Desired Experience

      • Strong programming skills in Julia or Modelica
      • Prior experience in working with thermofluid systems
      • Prior experience in estimation/calibration of complex nonlinear systems using experimental data


    See All Internships for Applied Physics

  • Recent Publications

    •  Lin, C., Boufounos, P.T., Ma, Y., Wang, Y., Ding, Q., Sels, D., Chien, C.-C., "Time-optimal single-scalar control on a qubit of unitary dynamics", Physical Review, April 2025.
      BibTeX TR2025-048 PDF
      • @article{Lin2025apr2,
      • author = {Lin, Chungwei and Boufounos, Petros T. and Ma, Yanting and Wang, Yebin and Ding, Qi and Sels, Dries and Chien, Chih-Chun},
      • title = {{Time-optimal single-scalar control on a qubit of unitary dynamics}},
      • journal = {Physical Review},
      • year = 2025,
      • month = apr,
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2025-048}
      • }
    •  Dong, Y., Yagyu, E., Matsuda, T., Teo, K.H., Lin, C., Rakheja, S., "An accurate electrical and thermal co-simulation framework for modeling high-temperature DC and pulsed I-V characteristics of GaN HEMTs", IEEE Journal of the Electron Devices Society, March 2025.
      BibTeX TR2025-041 PDF
      • @article{Dong2025mar,
      • author = {Dong, Yicong and Yagyu, Eiji and Matsuda, Takashi and Teo, Koon Hoo and Lin, Chungwei and Rakheja, Shaloo},
      • title = {{An accurate electrical and thermal co-simulation framework for modeling high-temperature DC and pulsed I-V characteristics of GaN HEMTs}},
      • journal = {IEEE Journal of the Electron Devices Society},
      • year = 2025,
      • month = mar,
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2025-041}
      • }
    •  Das, A., Rahman, S., Xiang, X., Palash, R.H., Hossain, T., Sikder, B., Yagyu, E., Nakamura, M., Teo, K.H., Chowdhury, N., "Inverse Design of AlGaN/GaN HEMT RF Device with Source Connected Field Plate", Advanced Theory and Simulations, March 2025.
      BibTeX TR2025-040 PDF
      • @article{Das2025mar,
      • author = {Das, Aurick and Rahman, Saimur and Xiang, Xiaofeng and Palash, Raffd Hassan and Hossain, Toiyob and Sikder, Bejoy and Yagyu, Eiji and Nakamura, Marika and Teo, Koon Hoo and Chowdhury, Nadim},
      • title = {{Inverse Design of AlGaN/GaN HEMT RF Device with Source Connected Field Plate}},
      • journal = {Advanced Theory and Simulations},
      • year = 2025,
      • month = mar,
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2025-040}
      • }
    •  Sikder, B., Hossain, T., Xie, Q., Niroula, J., Rajput, N.S., Teo, K.H., Amano, H., Palacios, T., Chowdhury, N., "Hole transport mechanism at high temperatures in p-GaN/AlGaN/GaN Heterostructure", Applied Physics Letters, DOI: 10.1063/​5.0203344, January 2025.
      BibTeX TR2025-014 PDF
      • @article{Sikder2025jan,
      • author = {Sikder, Bejoy and Hossain, Toiyob and Xie, Qingyun and Niroula, john and Rajput, Nitul S. and Teo, Koon Hoo and Amano, Hiroshi and Palacios, Tomas and Chowdhury, Nadim},
      • title = {{Hole transport mechanism at high temperatures in p-GaN/AlGaN/GaN Heterostructure}},
      • journal = {Applied Physics Letters},
      • year = 2025,
      • month = jan,
      • doi = {10.1063/5.0203344},
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2025-014}
      • }
    •  Hossain, T., Hossain, T., Anindya Alam, A., sikder, B., Xie, Q., Yuan, M., Yagyu, E., Teo, K.H., Palacios, T., Chowdhury, N., Wang, Y., "System-Technology Co-Optimization of Multimetal Gated AlGaN/GaN HEMT for Improved RF Linearity", Journal of Electron Devices Society, DOI: 10.1109/​JEDS.2024.3506618, December 2024.
      BibTeX TR2024-171 PDF
      • @article{Hossain2024dec,
      • author = {Hossain, Toiyob and Hossain, Tanvir and Anindya Alam, A. and sikder, Bejoy and Xie, Qingyun and Yuan, Mengyang and Yagyu, Eiji and Teo, Koon Hoo and Palacios, Tomas and Chowdhury, Nadim and Wang, Yebin},
      • title = {{System-Technology Co-Optimization of Multimetal Gated AlGaN/GaN HEMT for Improved RF Linearity}},
      • journal = {Journal of Electron Devices Society},
      • year = 2024,
      • month = dec,
      • doi = {10.1109/JEDS.2024.3506618},
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2024-171}
      • }
    •  Lin, C., Wang, Y., Vetterling, W., Jha, D.K., Quirynen, R., "Path Generation based on Electrostatic Equipotential Curves", IEEE Access, DOI: 10.1109/​ACCESS.2024.3389962, Vol. 12, pp. 55019-55032, May 2024.
      BibTeX TR2024-049 PDF
      • @article{Lin2024may,
      • author = {Lin, Chungwei and Wang, Yebin and Vetterling, William and Jha, Devesh K. and Quirynen, Rien},
      • title = {{Path Generation based on Electrostatic Equipotential Curves}},
      • journal = {IEEE Access},
      • year = 2024,
      • volume = 12,
      • pages = {55019--55032},
      • month = may,
      • doi = {10.1109/ACCESS.2024.3389962},
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2024-049}
      • }
    •  Xu, Y., Wang, B., Sakamoto, Y., Yamamoto, T., Nishimura, Y., Koike-Akino, T., Wang, Y., "Electric Machine Inverse Design with Variational Auto-Encoder (VAE)", IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE), DOI: 10.1109/​ECCE53617.2023.10362903, October 2023.
      BibTeX TR2023-134 PDF
      • @inproceedings{Xu2023nov,
      • author = {Xu, Yihao and Wang, Bingnan and Sakamoto, Yusuke and Yamamoto, Tatsuya and Nishimura, Yuki and Koike-Akino, Toshiaki and Wang, Ye},
      • title = {{Electric Machine Inverse Design with Variational Auto-Encoder (VAE)}},
      • booktitle = {IEEE Energy Conversion Congress and Exposition (ECCE)},
      • year = 2023,
      • month = oct,
      • publisher = {IEEE},
      • doi = {10.1109/ECCE53617.2023.10362903},
      • issn = {2329-3748},
      • isbn = {979-8-3503-1644-5},
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2023-134}
      • }
    •  Brand, M., Kuang, Z., "Scene depths from a two-polarization metalens", Optica Imaging Congress / Flat Optics, DOI: 10.1364/​FLATOPTICS.2023.FW5D.3, August 2023.
      BibTeX TR2023-105 PDF
      • @inproceedings{Brand2023aug,
      • author = {Brand, Matthew and Kuang, Zeyu},
      • title = {{Scene depths from a two-polarization metalens}},
      • booktitle = {Optica Imaging Congress / Flat Optics},
      • year = 2023,
      • month = aug,
      • doi = {10.1364/FLATOPTICS.2023.FW5D.3},
      • isbn = {978-1-957171-28-9},
      • url = {https://www.merl.com/publications/TR2023-105}
      • }
    See All Publications for Applied Physics

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