June 6, 2017
Faster, cheaper, better: Reza Rafie’s doctoral research is looking at how we can increase data rates to improve communication speed on fibre networks. Rafie’s research, under the supervision of Professor Frank Kschischang, in The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering (ECE), is two-fold: “One of the objectives of my project is to estimate the capacity of non-linear fibre — the ultimate limit to the rate at which one can reliably transmit information — for this unconventional nonlinear channel,” says Rafie. “The other objective of my project is to exploit the nonlinear Fourier transform — a powerful tool in the theory of nonlinear dispersive waves — to design communication mechanisms that can operate at data rates very close to the capacity of fibre.”
Rafie has received a 2017 Vanier Scholarship for his ongoing research in fibre-optic communications. Worth $50,000 per year for three years, Vanier Scholarships are awarded by the Government of Canada to doctoral students at Canadian universities who demonstrate excellence in three areas: academics, leadership and research impact. Since he began his doctoral studies at U of T in 2015, Rafie has had success in getting a number of papers published and he has volunteered at the Centre for International Experience, helping international students embark on their studies in Toronto. As for research impact: “Around 99 per cent of the world’s Internet and phone traffic, at some point, are carried over optical fibres,” says Rafie. “So, increasing data rates in fibre-optic communications directly affects the Internet data rates: online services become both cheaper and faster.”
When it comes to Vanier Scholarships, it’s a family affair: his sister, Elham was also awarded a Vanier Scholarship this year for her research at the University of Alberta, where Rafie completed his master’s studies. Rafie credits his supervisor for drawing him to ECE at U of T: “Professor Kschischang is a renowned leader in information theory, I’m very fortunate to be a student of his,” says Rafie. “Being named a Vanier Scholar is an honour, particularly in light of the very competitive nature of this award, and is a great motivation for me to do high quality research during the rest of my PhD studies.”
More information:
Jessica MacInnis
Senior Communications Officer
The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering
416-978-7997; jessica.macinnis@utoronto.ca