Prof. Lizhong Zheng

Lizhong Zheng works in wireless communications (multiple antenna channels, space-time codes), wireless networks, applied information theory and coding theory, and adaptive multiuser detections. He focuses on developing a fundamental theory of communications over dynamic and networked environments.

In the past decade, developments in information theory have been the main driving force of the wireless communications industry. Several new concepts, including using multiple antennas and “opportunistic communications” have revolutionized the ways that wireless communication systems are built and understood. The research of LIDS and its recent alumni played a crucial role in this process.

One area of research for Zheng’s group is Opportunistic Communications for wireless, based on the idea that when a channel is good, use it, and when a channel is bad, leave it alone or let other people into it.

Zheng explains why he is focusing on developing a fundamental theory of communications over dynamic and networked environments. Interference and cooperation over a dynamic network make for much more interesting problems. The theory is more complicated for these very new problems, but is based on information theory developed 60 years ago. That theory is mature enough to make progress and new ideas are starting to form.