Research

Computational Imaging and Sensing in Complex Environments This research explores the co-design of optical systems and computational algorithms to efficiently acquire images and multidimensional information across space, spectrum, and time, pushing the resolution and speed limits of conventional imaging. It enables high-resolution, high-speed imaging and precision sensing in complex environments, encompassing single-pixel/ghost imaging, snapshot compressive imaging, ultrafast imaging, imaging through scattering media, and target recognition. Selected Publications: Measurement 2026 | Laser & Photonics Reviews 2025 | Photonics Research 2024 | Optics Express 2023 | Optica 2021

Computational Microscopy and Biomedical Imaging Research in this area focuses on developing high-resolution, high-speed, and minimally invasive imaging methods and systems for life sciences and biomedical applications, with an emphasis on computational microscopy, super-resolution fluorescence imaging, and fiber-optic endoscopic imaging. Selected Publications: Light: Science & Applications 2025 | Laser & Photonics Reviews 2024 | Nano Letters 2022 | Nanoscale Advances 2022 | Nano Letters 2020

Intelligent Optics and Novel Imaging Devices This research integrates optics, computation, and artificial intelligence to develop miniaturized, integrated imaging and sensing devices tailored to specific tasks. Hardware–software co-design spans information acquisition to target recognition, with research encompassing on-chip multidimensional imaging, computational spectroscopic devices, optical neural networks, and task-specific intelligent sensing. Selected Publications: Photonics Research 2026 | Optics and Laser Technology 2026 | Light: Science & Applications 2024 | IEEE Photonics Journal 2021

Team

We are an interdisciplinary group, made up of people from many different backgrounds. Faculty

Baolei Liu liubaolei [at] buaa [dot] edu [dot] cn Associate Professor, School of Instrumentation and Optoelectronics Engineering His research focuses on integrating optical design and computational algorithms to develop computational imaging and intelligent sensing methods and devices for precision sensing and biomedical applications, including compressive computational imaging, on-chip multidimensional imaging, computational spectroscopic devices, ultrafast imaging and target recognition, fiber-optic endoscopic imaging, super-resolution fluorescence imaging, and other novel imaging and sensing methods. Email  /  Google Scholar  /  Researchgate  /  ORCID  /  Twitter

Graduate students

Alumni

Publications

We are interested in devleoping new methods for Super-resolution Imaging | Optics in complex media | Nanophotonics | Single-pixel Imaging | Optical Fiber Sensing | Novel Imaging Methods, etc. Our research articles are published in journals related to nanophotonics and optical imaging, such as Light: Science & Applications, Optica, Laser & Photonics Reviews, Photonics Research, Nano Letters, Optics Letters and Optics Express, etc.

Journal Papers:

           
1. Hessian-sparsity untrained neural network for near-infrared single-photon, single-pixel imaging
   Y. Wang, M. Zhu, L. Zhai, H. Zhang, J. Chen, Y. Yu, D. Wang, Z. Yang, B. Liu ✉, and F. Wang ✉,
   Optics Letters, 51(22), 6387-6390, 2026. [IF: 3.6, LINK].

2. Multi-target localization and trajectory prediction via single-pixel detection in complex backgrounds
   Y. Yu, Z. Yang ✉, B. Liu, P. Ji, S. Zhou, Y. Yu ✉, and L. Guo,
   Science China Technological Sciences, 69(8), 1800407, 2026. [IF: 5.1, LINK].

3. Dual-channel hyperspectral single-pixel imaging with visible and near-infrared bands and a physics-informed neural network
   H. Lei, B. Liu ✉, Y. Yu, M. Zhu, W. Bai, C. Chen, Y. Yu, and Z. Yang ✉,
   Optics Communications, 615, 133261, 2026. [IF: 2.7, LINK].

4. Multi-Step Adaptive Deconvolution via Multi-View for Image Enhancement in Scattering Media
   H. Jiang, Y. Wang, W. Yin, X. Nie, H. Zhang, B. Liu, Z. Yang, and Y. Yu,
   IEEE Transactions on Computational Imaging, 12, 761-775, 2026. [IF: 4.7, LINK].

5. Compensating illumination variations in hyperspectral single-pixel imaging
   Z. Zhao, B. Liu ✉, J. Liu, H. Lei, and Z. Yang ✉,
   Optics Communications, 608, 133029, 2026. [IF: 2.7, LINK].

6. Miniaturized computational spectrometer enabled by the photoelastic effect with adaptive modulation units selection
   L. Zhai, B. Liu ✉, M. Zhu, Y. Wang, C. Chen, Z. Yang, L. Fu, and F. Wang ✉,
   Photonics Research, 14(2), A73, 2026. [IF: 7.2, LINK].

7. Physics-informed neural network enhanced multispectral single-pixel imaging with a chip spectral sensor
   M. Zhu, B. Liu ✉, Y. Wang, L. Zhai, J. Song, N. Liu, Z. Yang, L. Ding, & F. Wang,
   Optics and Laser Technology, 114430, 2026. [IF: 5.0, LINK].
   

8. Exploiting scattering-based point spread functions for snapshot 5D and modality-switchable lensless imaging
   Z. Zheng, B. Liu ✉, J. Song, M. Zhu, C. Han, Y. Wang, M. Tian, Y. Xiong, Z. Yang, X. Zhong, D. McGloin, & F. Wang,
   Laser & Photonics Reviews, e01888, 2025. [IF: 10.0, LINK].
   

9. Kilometer-range compressive hyperspectral single-pixel imaging
   H. Lei, Z. Yang, Y. Yu, & B. Liu ✉,
   Measurement, 261, 119928, 2026. [IF: 5.6, LINK].
   

10. Intracellular Manipulation by Particle Swarm Optimized Optical Tweezers
    D. Wang, T. Zhang, J. Shi, Y. Wang, B. Liu, L. Ding, C. Chen, W. Zhang, J. Zheng, J. Chen, Z. Li, R. Deng, X. Shan, & F. Wang,
    Laser & Photonics Reviews, e02473, 2025. [IF: 10.0, LINK].
    

11. Photoenergy harvesting by ammonium molybdate soft hydrogel drops
    Z. Lu, X. Hang, Z. Zhao, L. Cheng, Y. Zeng, B. Li, M. Tian, B. Liu, X. Shan, H. Zhu, Z. Wang, M. Ma, J. Wang, Y. Gong, X. Zhong, Y. Wang, L. Chang & F. Wang,
    Light: Science & Applications, 14(1): 372, 2025. [IF: 13.4, LINK].
    

12. Structured light meets machine intelligence
    Z. Zhang, L. Kong, L. Zhang, X. Pan, T. Das, B. Wang, B. Liu, F. Wang, I. Nape, Y. Shen, and A. Forbes,
    eLight, 5(1), 26, 2025. [IF: 32.1, LINK].
    

13. Dual-wavelength 3D single-pixel imaging based on gated photon counting
    J. Liu, Z. Yang, Y. Tian, Z. Zhao, Z. Dong, B. Liu, Y. Yang, M. Li, Y. Yu,
    Optics and Lasers in Engineering, 195, 109269, 2025. [IF: 3.7, LINK].
    

14. Electrically tunable coloration in polymer dispersed liquid crystal films for adaptive camouflage
    W. Wu, X. Sun, X. Zhao, B. Liu, G. Wu, X. Zhang, B. Wang, X. Wang, X. Rong, and N. Liu,
    Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 13, 9693-9704, 2025. [IF: 5.1, LINK].
    

15. Advances in multiplexed photoelectrochemical sensors for multiple components
    L. Ding, Z. Zhong, C. Chen, B. Liu, Z. Chen, L. Zhang, J. Mao, M. Zhang, Q. P. Su, and F. Cheng,
    Chemical Engineering Journal, 159319, 2025. [IF: 13.4, LINK].
    

16. Multi-resolution analysis for high-fidelity deconvolution microscopy
    B. Liu ✉, and Fan Wang,
    Light: Science & Applications, 14:1, 2025. [IF: 20.6, LINK].
    

17. Miniaturized spectrometer based on tunable electrochromic device
    M. Tian, B. Liu ✉, Z. Lu, Y. Wang, Z. Zheng, J. Song, X. Zhong, and Fan Wang,
    Light: Science & Applications, 13:278, 2024. [IF: 20.6, LINK, LSA News].
    

18. Multi-photon super-linear image scanning microscopy using upconversion nanoparticles
    Y. Wang, B. Liu ✉, L. Ding, C. Chen, X. Shan, D. Wang, M. Tian, J. Song, Z. Zheng, X. Xu, X. Zhong, and F. Wang,
    Laser & Photonics Reviews, 2400746, 2024. [IF: 9.8, LINK].
    

19. Sub-femtonewton force sensing in solution by super-resolved photonic force microscopy
    X. Shan, L. Ding, D. Wang, S. Wen, J. Shi, C. Chen, Y. Wang, H. Zhu, Z. Huang, S. J. Wang, X. Zhong, B. Liu, P. Reece, W. Ren, W. Hao, X. Lu, J. Lu, Q. P. Su, L. Chang, L. Sun, D. Jin, L. Jiang & F. Wang,
    Nature Photonics, 18, 913–921, 2024. [IF: 35, LINK].
    

20. Temporal compressive edge imaging enabled by a lensless diffuser camera
    Z. Zheng, B. Liu ✉, J. Song, L. Ding, X. Zhong, D. Mcgloin, and Fan Wang ✉,
    Optics Letters, 49(11), 3058-3061, 2024. [IF: 3.6, LINK].
    

21. Large-area near-infrared emission enhancement on single upconversion nanoparticles by metal nanohole array
    X. Li, Y. Wang, J. Shi, Z. Zhao, D. Wang, Z. Chen, L. Cheng, G. Lu, Y. Liang, H. Dong, X. Shan, B. Liu, C. Chen, Y. Liu, F. Liu, L. Sun, X. Zhong, and F. Wang,
    Nano Letters, 24(19), 5831–5837, 2024. [IF: 10.8, LINK].
    

22. Computational and dark-field ghost imaging with ultraviolet light
    J. Song, B. Liu ✉, Y. Wang, C. Chen, X. Shan, X. Zhong, L.-A. Wu, and Fan Wang,
    Photonics Research, 12(2), 226-234, 2024. [IF: 7.6, LINK, PDF].
    

23. Optical Nonlinearity Enabled Super-Resolved Multiplexing Microscopy
    L. Ding, C. Chen, X. Shan, B. Liu, D. Wang, Z. Du, G. Zhao, Q. P. Su, Y. Yang, B. Halkon, T. T. Tran, J. Liao, I. Aharonovich, M. Zhang, F. Cheng, L. Fu, X. Xu, and Fan Wang
    Advanced Materials, 2308844, 2023. [IF: 29.4, LINK].
    

24. Multi-functional dual-path self-aligned polarization interference lithography
    J. Song, B. Liu, X. Shan, F. Wang, and X. Zhong,
    Optics Express, 31(11), 17629-17644, 2023. [IF: 3.833, LINK].
    

25. Dual-mode adaptive-SVD ghost imaging
    D. Wang, B. Liu ✉, J. Song, Y. Wang, X. Shan, X. Zhong, and F. Wang ✉,
    Optics Express, 31(9), 14225-14239, 2023. [IF: 3.833, LINK].
    

26. Trapped aerosol sizes under fiber-based counter-propagation optical trapping
    L. Zhang, A. Szmalenberg, K. Cook, B. Liu, L. Ding, F. Wang, and D. McGloin,
    Journal of the Optical Society of America B, 40(2), 460-468, 2023. [IF: 2.058, LINK]
    

27. Lanthanide Ion Resonance-Driven Rayleigh Scattering of Nanoparticles for Dual‐Modality Interferometric Scattering Microscopy
    L. Ding, X. Shan, D. Wang, B. Liu ✉, Z. Du, X. Di, C. Chen, M. Maddahfar, L. Zhang, Y. Shi, P. Reece, B. Halkon, I. Aharonovich, X. Xu, F. Wang ✉,
    Advanced Science, 9(32), 2203354, 2022. [IF: 17.521, published as the inside back cover, LINK]   

28. Exploiting Dynamic Nonlinearity in Upconversion Nanoparticles for Super-Resolution Imaging
    C. Chen, L. Ding, B. Liu ✉, Z. Du, Y. Liu, X. Di, X. Shan, C. Lin, M. Zhang, X. Xu, X. Zhong, J. Wang, L. Chang, B. Halkon, X. Chen, F. Cheng, F. Wang ✉,
    Nano Letters, 22(17), 7136–7143, 2022. [IF: 12.263, LINK]
    

29. Multiplexed structured illumination super-resolution imaging with lifetime-engineered upconversion nanoparticles
    B. Liu, J. Liao, Y. Song, C. Chen, L. Ding, J. Zhou, and F. Wang,
    Nanoscale Advances, 4(1), 30-38, 2022. [IF: 5.598, published as the front cover, PDF]
      

30. Single-pixel diffuser camera
    B. Liu, F. Wang, C. Chen, and D. McGloin,
    IEEE Photonics Journal, 13(6), 7800205, 2021. [IF: 2.443, PDF]
    

31. Self-evolving ghost imaging
    B. Liu, F. Wang, C. Chen, F. Dong, and D. McGloin,
    Optica, 8(10), 1340-1349, 2021. [IF: 11.104, PDF]
    

32. Optical Fingerprint Classification of Single Upconversion Nanoparticles by Deep Learning
    J. Liao, J. Zhou, Y. Song, B. Liu, J. Lu, and D. Jin,
    Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 12(41), 10242–10248, 2021. [IF: 6.475, PDF]
      

33. Preselectable Optical Fingerprints of Heterogeneous Upconversion Nanoparticles
    J. Liao, J. Zhou, Y. Song, B. Liu, Y. Chen, F. Wang, C. Chen, J. Lin, X. Chen, J. Lu, and D. Jin,
    Nano Letters, 21(18), 7659–7668, 2021. [IF: 11.189, Q1 Top, PDF]
      

34. Heterochromatic nonlinear optical responses in upconversion nanoparticles for super-resolution nanoscopy
    C. Chen, B. Liu, Y. Liu, J. Liao, X. Shan, F. Wang and D. Jin,
    Advanced Materials, 33(23), 2008847, 2021. [IF: 30.849, PDF]
      

35. Upconversion Nonlinear Structured Illumination Microscopy
    B. Liu, C. Chen, X. Di, J. Liao, S. Wen, Q.P. Su, X. Shan, Z.Q. Xu, L.A. Ju, C. Mi, F. Wang, and D. Jin,
    Nano Letters, 20(7), 4775-4781, 2020. [IF: 11.189, published as the front cover, PDF]
      

36. Video-rate upconverting display by optimizing lanthanide ions doped upconversion nanoparticles
    L. Gao, X. Shan, X. Xu, Y. Liu, B. Liu, S. Li, S. Wen, C. Ma, D. Jin, and F. Wang,
    Nanoscale, 12(36), 18595–18599, 2020. [IF: 6.895, PDF]
      

37. Quantitative lateral flow strip sensor using highly doped upconversion nanoparticles
    H. He, B. Liu, S. Wen, J. Liao, G. Lin, J. Zhou, and D. Jin,
    Analytical Chemistry, 90(21), 12356-12360, 2018. [IF: 6.785, Q1 Top, citation: 80, PDF]
    

38. Coloured computational imaging with single-pixel detectors based on a 2D discrete cosine transform
    B. Liu, Z. Yang, X. Liu, and L. Wu,
    Journal of Modern Optics, 64(3), 259-264, 2017. [IF: 1.657, citation: 80, rank 3rd place in most cited papers in 2017 of the journal, PDF]
    

39. Normalized iterative denoising ghost imaging based on the adaptive threshold
    G. Li, Z. Yang, Y. Zhao, R. Yan, X. Liu, and B. Liu,
    Laser Physics Letters, 14(2), 025207, 2017. [IF: 2.328, PDF]
    

40. Influence of turbid media at different locations in computational ghost imaging
    B. Liu, Z. Yang, S. Qu, A. Zhang, and L. Wu,
    Acta Opt Sinica, 36 (10), 1026017, 2016. PDF]

    Conference Papers:

41. Intelligent diagnosis of menopausal syndrome via hyperspectral tongue imaging
    C. Yu, Z. Yang, Z. Dong, Y. Chen, B. Liu, W. Bai, X. Liu,
    Proceedings of the 2025 6th International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence for Medical Sciences, 30-36, 2025. [Link]

42. Multispectral computational ghost imaging based on single-pixel silicon detector
    Y. He, Y. Ma, B. Liu, Y. Wang, J. Song, W. Jin, F. Wang, and Z. Li,
    2025 IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC), 2025. [Link]

43. Computational ghost imaging based on single-pixel GaAsSb nanowire array photodetector
    Y. Ma, Z. He, Y. He, B. Liu, Y. Wang, J. Song, Y. Yu, W. Jin, L. Fu, F. Wang, and Z. Li,
    2025 IEEE Photonics Conference (IPC), 2025. [Link]

44. Hyperspectral single-pixel imaging using untrained neural network
    M. Zhu, B. Liu*, Y. Wang, L. Zhai, N. Liu, and F. Wang,
    Proceedings of SPIE, 13963, 139630G, AOPC 2025: Computational Imaging Technology, 2025. [Link]

45. Physics-informed ultra-low photon level single-pixel imaging
    Y. Wang, B. Liu*, L. Zhai, M. Zhu, and F. Wang,
    Proceedings of SPIE, 13963, 139630H, AOPC 2025: Computational Imaging Technology, 2025. [Link]

46. Differential single‑pixel video and audio recording via a rotating encoded disk
    X. Liu, Z. Yang, M. Li, Y. Zhang, B. Quan, L. Wu, S. Zhou, and B. Liu,
    Proceedings of SPIE, 13647, 136470I, Third Conference on Space, Atmosphere, Marine, and Environmental Optics (SAME 2025), 2025. [Link]

47. Single-pixel imaging and ranging via rotating encoding patterns
    W. Lian, Z. Yang, M. Li, Y. Zhang, B. Quan, L. Wu, S. Zhou, and B. Liu,
    Proceedings of SPIE, 13647, 1364711, Third Conference on Space, Atmosphere, Marine, and Environmental Optics (SAME 2025), 2025. [Link]

48. Median filtering enhanced self-evolving ghost imaging with adaptive illumination patterns
    Y. Wang, B. Liu*, F. Wang,
    Proceedings of SPIE, 13501, 1350105, AOPC 2024: Computational Imaging Technology, 2024. [Link]

49. Polarization-responsive filters for miniaturized on-chip spectrometer
    M. Tian, B. Liu*, Z. Zheng, Y. Wang, J. Song, X. Zhong, F. Wang,
    Proceedings of SPIE, 12975, 6th Optics Young Scientist Summit (OYSS 2023), 129750U, 2023. [Link]

50. Structured illumination super-resolution imaging with lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles
    B. Liu*, Y. Wang, J. Song, M. Tian, Z. Zheng, X. Shan, L. Ding, C. Chen, F. Wang,
    Proceedings of SPIE, 12975, 6th Optics Young Scientist Summit (OYSS 2023), 129750S, 2023. [Link]

51. Spectral and polarization imaging by a lensless diffuser camera
    Z. Zheng, B. Liu*, M. Tian, Y. Wang, J. Song, X. Shan, X. Zhong, F. Wang,
    Proceedings of SPIE, 12975, 6th Optics Young Scientist Summit (OYSS 2023), 129750R, 2023. [Link]

52. Dual beam optical fiber traps for aerosols with angular deviation
    L. Zhang, K. Cook, A. Szmalenberg, B. Liu, L. Ding, F. Wang, D. McGloin,
    Proceedings of SPIE, 12017, Complex Light and Optical Forces XVI, 120170G, 2022. [Link]

53. Lanthanide ions in nanocrystals for biophotonics application
    18. C. Chen, B. Liu, J. Liao, L. Ding, X. Shan, F. Wang,
    Proceedings of SPIE, 12277, 2021 International Conference on Optical Instruments and Technology: Optical Systems, Optoelectronic Instruments, Novel Display, and Imaging Technology, 2022. [Link]

54. Self-optimizing ghost imaging with a genetic algorithm
    B. Liu, X. Shan, J. Zhu, C. Chen, Y. Liu, F. Wang, and D. McGloin,
    14th Pacific Rim Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO PR 2020), Optical Society of America, paper C1G_3, 2020. [PDF]

55. 0.32 THz dual circularly polarized reflect array
    J. Zhu, D. McGloin, Y. Yang, and B. Liu,
    14th Pacific Rim Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics (CLEO PR 2020), Optical Society of America, paper C11B_3, 2020. [PDF]

56. A novel correlation imaging method using a periodic light source array
    B. Liu, Z. Yang, A. Zhang, and L. Wu,
    Proceedings of SPIE, 10154, 1015413, 2016. [PDF]

Conference Presentations

1. 10/2026, B. Liu. “Adaptive illumination for infrared visualization with a single-pixel detector”, SPIE/COS Photonics Asia, Nantong, China. (Invited talk)
2. 07/2026, B. Liu. “Towards direct infrared-to-visible vision with self-evolving single-pixel imaging”, 4th International Conference on Optical Communication and Optical Information Processing (OCOIP 2026), Ganzhou, China. (Invited talk)
3. 09/2025, B. Liu. “Miniaturized polarization-modulated computational spectrometer and scattering-modulated multidimensional imaging”, 3rd National Conference on Optoelectronic Measurement and Testing Technology and Industry Development, Beijing, China. (Invited talk)
4. 06/2025, B. Liu. “Minimalist computational spectrometer and multidimensional imaging system based on compressed sensing”, 6th World Photonics Conference and the 14th International Symposium on Applied Optics and Photonics Technology, Beijing, China. (Invited talk)
5. 10/2024, B. Liu. “Lensless time-compressed edge imaging based on computational imaging and a miniaturized on-chip spectrometer”, 7th Annual Meeting of Young Scientists in Optics, Nanjing, China. (Invited talk)
6. 07/2024, B. Liu. “Self-evolving single-pixel imaging and lensless time-compressed edge imaging”, 2024 5th World Photonics Conference and the 13th International Symposium on Applied Optics and Photonics Technology (AOPC 2024), Beijing, China. (Invited talk)
7. 05/2024, B. Liu. “Computational optics enhanced near-infrared upconversion super-resolution imaging”, 2nd National Conference on Optoelectronic Measurement and Testing Technology and Industry Development, Dalian, China. (Invited talk)
8. 10/2023, B. Liu. “Advances in upconversion structured-illumination fluorescence super-resolution imaging and computational imaging”, 6th Annual Meeting of Young Scientists in Optics, Changsha, China. (Invited talk)
9. 08/2023, B. Liu. “Ultraviolet dark-field ghost imaging and lensless imaging system”, 13th National Conference on Quantum Imaging, Changsha, China. (Poster presentation)
10. 07/2023, B. Liu. “Fluorescence super-resolution imaging and single-pixel computational imaging”, Beihang University 2023 Growing Partner International Summer School on Basic Disciplines, Beijing, China. (Invited talk)
11. 08/2020, B. Liu, et al. “Self-optimizing ghost imaging with a genetic algorithm”, Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics/Pacific Rim (CLEO PR), Optical Society of America (OSA), Sydney, Australia. (Oral presentation)
12. 08/2020, B. Liu, et al. “A novel correlation imaging method using a periodic light source array”. Advanced Optical Design and Manufacturing Technology and Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, International Society for Optics and Photonics (SPIE). (Poster presentation)
13. 02/2020, Chen Chaohao, B. Liu, et al. “Multiplexed intermediate states saturation nanoscopy by Fourier spectral fusion”, The 8th International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICONN 2020), Brisbane, Australia. (Oral presentation)
14. 02/2020, B. Liu, et al. “Near-infrared nonlinear structured illumination microscopy for in-depth super-resolution imaging”, The 8th International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICONN 2020), Brisbane, Australia. (Poster presentation)
15. 01/2020, B. Liu, et al. “Upconversion assisted dual-NIR structured illumination microscopy”, The international Conference on Nanomaterial and Atomaterial Science and Applications (ICNASA 2020), Melbourne, Australia. (Oral presentation)
16. 08/2016, B. Liu, et al. “A double threshold multi-wavelength collated imaging”, Chinese Physical Society Autumn Meeting, Beijing, China. (Poster presentation)

Image Gallery

Laser speckles

     

Tracking nanoparticles in living cells

     

Tracking nanoparticles in living cells

     

Upconversion fluorescence movies

     

Holographic movies