About

Edwin Marengo is an associate professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northeastern University. His research focuses on physics-based signal processing and imaging, electromagnetic information theory, electromagnetic theory, wavefield imaging, and mathematical physics. He obtained his Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Northeastern University in 1997 and has worked as a postdoctoral research associate at Northeastern, the University of Arizona, and Arizona State University, as well as a research professor at the Technological University of Panama. His broad research interests include problems in electromagnetic theory, wave inversion and imaging theory, wireless communications, and signal processing. Marengo is a former Fulbright scholar sponsored by the USA Department of State and is a member of several professional organizations including Phi Kappa Phi, Eta Kappa Nu, the IEEE, the American Physical Society, and the Optical Society of America. He has been an invited speaker at numerous universities in the USA and abroad.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Computer Security
• Optics
• Physics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Algorithm
• Computer vision
• Telecommunications
• Computer network
• Theoretical computer science

Selected publications

• Equivalence of optical theorems

  Proceedings of the Royal Society A Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences · 2026-01-15

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Abstract We demonstrate, in the full vector formulation of electromagnetic fields, that the well-known optical theorem (OT) pertinent for the characterization of a scatterer’s extinction power and associated cross section can be expressed in a multitude of alternative equivalent forms. These alternatives involve different forms of projective field measurements or detectors. The inherent nonuniqueness of such optical-theorem-based detectors stems from the nonuniqueness of an associated inverse source problem, and can be interpreted via well-known equivalence principles. Some of the multiple ways in which the extinction of power due to the interaction of a scattering body with a probing field can be measured remotely are derived and interpreted for a number of canonical frameworks. This includes detectors and their corresponding OTs synthesized in the contexts of surface-confined sensors for near-field sensing, surface sensors based on backpropagation-based imaging, a number of planar aperture realizations dealt with through classical diffraction theory, as well as detectors based on multipole representations. General aspects of the derived optical theorems are discussed in the context of envisioned practical applications.

  PublisherDOI

• Equivalence of Optical Theorems

  ArXiv.org · 2025-06-10

  preprintOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  We demonstrate, in the full vector formulation of electromagnetic fields, that the well-known optical theorem pertinent for the characterization of a scatterer's extinction power and associated cross section can be expressed in a multitude of alternative equivalent forms. These alternatives involve different forms of projective field measurements or detectors. The inherent nonuniqueness of such optical-theorem-based detectors stems from the nonuniqueness of an associated inverse source problem, and can be interpreted via well-known equivalence principles. Some of the multiple ways in which the extinction of power due to the interaction of a scattering body with a probing field can be measured remotely are derived and interpreted for a number of canonical frameworks. This includes detectors and their corresponding optical theorems synthesized in the contexts of surface-confined sensors for near-field sensing, surface sensors based on backpropagation-based imaging, a number of planar aperture realizations dealt with through classical diffraction theory, as well as detectors based on multipole representations. General aspects of the derived optical theorems are discussed in the context of envisioned practical applications.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Multiplicity of optical theorems

  2025-01-01

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  The optical theorem is a fundamental result in scattering theory, which provides a framework to characterize the extinction cross section of a scatterer from scattered field data corresponding to well-defined limited views; e.g., in the classical plane wave excitation case, in free space, the extinction is defined by the value of the scattering amplitude in the forward direction only.The sensor employed for measurement of the extinction is not unique, however.This has been demonstrated in [1] in several scalar-wave frameworks, e.g., 1) Kirchhoff-Helmholtz and Rayleigh-Sommerfeld-based diffraction, 2) backpropagation-based imaging, 3) lens-based imaging, 4) boundaryvalue problems, as well as 5) the canonical multipole expansion.Recently, we have generalized the scalar theory in [1] to the full vector, electromagnetic case.This has led (as in [1]) to a multiplicity of optical theorem realizations, in several contexts: 1) Love's equivalence principle, in both time and frequency domains, 2) backpropagation-based imaging, 3) planar aperture realizations, and 4) electromagnetic multipole expansions, where in the latter approach we have derived two alternative theories, a restricted version that is the multipole form of backpropagation-based imaging and a more general one that applies in the near field.These generalizations shed insight into alternative methods for sensing the extincted power associated to the scattering phenomenon and, importantly, apply for arbitrary probing fields.This is an important generalization, e.g., for radar and remote sensing applications in multipath environments; in such environments the targets are interrogated both by the aimed probing beams as well as by additional medium's reflections, and this impacts, accordingly, the perceived cross section.This talk will summarize these theoretical developments alongside representative numerical illustrations in both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) geometries.Applications to the detection and tracking of targets through full vector, electromagnetic field data will also be discussed.

  PublisherDOI

• Optical-Theorem-Based Holography For Target Detection and Tracking

  ArXiv.org · 2025-02-01

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  The development of robust, real-time optical methods for the detection and tracking of particles in complex multiple scattering media is a problem of practical importance in a number of fields, including environmental monitoring, air quality assessment, and homeland security. In this paper we develop a holographic, optical-theorem-based method for the detection of particles embedded in complex environments where wavefronts undergo strong multiple scattering. The proposed methodology is adaptive, to the complex medium, which is integral to the sensing apparatus, and thereby enables constant monitoring, through progressive adaptation. This feature, along with the holographic nature of the developed approach, also renders as a by-product real-time imaging capabilities for the continuous tracking of particles traversing the region under surveillance. In addition, the proposed methodology also enables the development of customized sensors that leverage a controllable complex multiple scattering medium and the derived holographic sensing technology for real-time particle detection and tracking. We demonstrate, with the help of realistic computer simulations, holographic techniques capable of detecting and tracking small particles under such conditions and analyze the role of multiple scattering in enhancing the detection performance. Potential applications include the identification of aerosolized biological substances, which is critical for biosecurity and the rapid detection of hazardous airborne particles in confined or densely populated areas.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Optical-Theorem-Based Holography for Target Detection and Tracking

  Sensors · 2025-03-31 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  The development of robust, real-time optical methods for the detection and tracking of particles in complex, multiple-scattering media is a problem of practical importance in a number of fields, including environmental monitoring, air quality assessment, and homeland security. In this paper, we develop a holographic, optical-theorem-based method for the detection of particles embedded in complex environments where wavefronts undergo strong multiple scattering. The proposed methodology is adaptive to a complex medium, which is integral to the sensing apparatus and thereby enables constant monitoring through progressive adaptation. This feature, along with the holographic nature of the developed approach, also renders (as a byproduct) real-time imaging capabilities for the continuous tracking of particles traversing the region under surveillance. In addition, the proposed methodology also enables the development of customized sensors that leverage a controllable complex multiple-scattering medium and the derived holographic sensing technology for real-time particle detection and tracking. We demonstrate, with the help of realistic computer simulations, holographic techniques capable of detecting and tracking small particles under such conditions and analyze the role of multiple scattering in enhancing detection performance. Potential applications include the identification of aerosolized biological substances, which is critical for biosecurity, and the rapid detection of hazardous airborne particles in confined or densely populated areas.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Data-driven ad hoc signal subspace imaging in unknown multipath environments

  2025-05-29

  article1st authorCorresponding

  We develop new methods for the detection and localization of targets in unknown multipath environments. The derived techniques do not require complete medium’s response information. They are instead data-driven and rely only on partial views of the scene as accessible with an ad hoc network of (more or less) randomly positioned transceivers or sensors placed in the scene. The distributed nature of this sensing array enhances spatial coverage, thus enabling the gathering of local and in situ information regarding the complex medium that is in principle detectable at a remote direction of arrival (DOA) array. The derived methods are based on different combinations of coherent and incoherent processing of “first pass” and “second pass” field data of the scene under interrogation. The main objective is the development of a cognitive image of the scene, through physically-motivated detectors or indicators of target proximity, intrusion or early warning, and events such as crossings of the targets in specific directions covered by the network. We also discuss a number of new methods for ad-hoc-network-enabled DOA estimation including a new form of data-driven ad hoc multiple signal classification.

  PublisherDOI

• Optical-theorem-aided data-driven radar imaging

  2024-01-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Change detection algorithms for unknown multipath environments are derived that are based on the classical optical theorem of scattering theory.The methods are data-driven and prior knowledge of the scene is not required.They are presented in a framework suitable for implementation with ad hoc multistatic sensor arrays.Complementary realizations are derived that enable, in practice, the continuous dynamic reconfiguration of the network for resilient radar operation in contested environments.

  PublisherDOI

• Differential sensing approaches for scattering-based holographic encryption

  Journal of Optics · 2024-11-21 · 2 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract We develop a new scattering-based framework for the holographic encryption of analog and digital signals. The proposed methodology, termed ‘differential sensing’, involves encryption of a wavefield image by means of two hard-to-guess, complex and random scattering media, namely, a background and a total (background plus scatterer) medium. Unlike prior developments in this area, not one but two scattering media are adopted for scrambling of the probing wavefields (as encoded, e.g. in a suitable ciphertext hologram) and, consequently, this method offers enhanced security. In addition, while prior works have addressed methods based on physical imaging in the encryption phase followed by computational imaging in the decryption stage, we examine the complementary modality wherein encryption is done computationally while decryption is done analogically, i.e. via the materialization of the required physical imaging system comprising the ciphertext hologram and the two unique (background and total) media. The practical feasibility of the proposed differential sensing approach is examined with the help of computer simulations incorporating multiple scattering. The advantages of this method relative to the conventional single-medium approach are discussed for both analog and digital signals. The paper also develops algorithms for the required in situ holography as well as a new wavefield-nulling-based approach for scattering-based encryption with envisioned applications in real-time customer validation and secure communication.

  PublisherDOI

• Differential Sensing Approaches for Scattering-Based Holographic Encryption

  arXiv (Cornell University) · 2024-09-08

  preprintOpen accessSenior author

  We develop a new scattering-based framework for the holographic encryption of analog and digital signals. The proposed methodology, termed "differential sensing", involves encryption of a wavefield image by means of two hard-to-guess, complex and random scattering media, namely, a background and a total (background plus scatterer) medium. Unlike prior developments in this area, not one but two scattering media are adopted for scrambling of the probing wavefields (as encoded, e.g., in a suitable ciphertext hologram) and, consequently, this method offers enhanced security. In addition, while prior works have addressed methods based on physical imaging in the encryption phase followed by computational imaging in the decryption stage, we examine the complementary modality wherein encryption is done computationally while decryption is done analogically, i.e., via the materialization of the required physical imaging system comprising the ciphertext hologram and the two unique (background and total) media. The practical feasibility of the proposed differential sensing approach is examined with the help of computer simulations incorporating multiple scattering. The advantages of this method relative to the conventional single-medium approach are discussed for both analog and digital signals. The paper also develops algorithms for the required in situ holography as well as a new wavefield-nulling-based approach for scattering-based encryption with envisioned applications in real-time customer validation and secure communication.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Change detection algorithms for ad hoc distributed radar

  2024 · 1 citations

  1st authorCorresponding
  • Computer Science
  • Computer Science
  • Algorithm

  This work investigates the detection of targets in an unknown complex scene by means of an ad hoc network of widely distributed sensors that are spread over the region of surveillance. A general coherent change detection methodology is developed that is based on the classical optical theorem of wave scattering theory. It relies on spatial-temporal-spectral projections of the scattered field data onto the incident field or background medium response data. This involves only data gathered in situ by the sensing array. Thus the proposed approach is purely data-driven, an important property for application in unknown media. Another important feature is that the derived approach admits alternative hardware and software implementations and this flexibility can be adopted to enhance resilience to interference and eavesdropping. The performance of the optical-theorem-based detection method is discussed. It is shown that it outperforms existing methods for change detection such as the classical energy detector under certain coherence conditions or views of the imaging system. The derived theory and algorithms are illustrated with computer simulations.

  PublisherDOI

Recent grants

• CAREER: An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Study of Wave-Based Signal Processing: Compressive Sensing and Signal-Subspace-Based Imaging

  NSF · $424k · 2008–2013

Frequent coauthors

• Fred K. Gruber

  GNS Healthcare (United States)

  22 shared

• Anthony J. Devaney

  Universidad del Noreste

  18 shared

• Richard W. Ziolkowski

  University of Arizona

  13 shared

• Jing Tu

  Northeastern University

  8 shared

• Maytee Zambrano-Nunez

  Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá

  5 shared

• Andrea Alù

  5 shared

• Mohammadrasoul Taghavi

  5 shared

• Edson S. Galagarza

  Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá

  5 shared

Awards & honors

• National Science Foundation CAREER Award