I recently graduated with a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. I was fortunate to be advised by Prof. Joseph Kahn and supported by a Cisco Systems Stanford Graduate Fellowship.

I have a variety of research interests including signal processing, optimization, artificial intelligence, and photonics.

My Ph.D. research was about spatial multiplexing of modes in multimode fibers to achieve high-throughput optical communication. I have worked on various problems related to communication system design and component design using novel optimization techniques.

Here is my CV, LinkedIn profile, and my Google Scholar page.

Email: kchoutagunta [at] alumni (dot) stanford (dot) edu

Education

Stanford University, Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, 2014-2019.
Stanford University, M.S. in Electrical Engineering, 2014-2016.
The University of Texas at Austin, B.S. in Electrical Engineering, 2010-2014.

Journal Publications

K. Choutagunta and J. M. Kahn, “Designing High-Performance Multimode Fibers Using Refractive Index Optimization ”, to appear in IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, 2020.
D. A. A. Mello, H. Srinivas, K. Choutagunta and J. M. Kahn, “Impact of Polarization- and Mode-Dependent Gain on the Capacity of Ultra-Long-Haul Systems”, IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 38, no. 2, pp. 303 - 318, December 2, 2019. (Invited paper)
K. Choutagunta, I. Roberts and J. M. Kahn, “Efficient Quantification and Simulation of Modal Dynamics in Multimode Fiber Links”, IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 37, no. 8, pp. 1813 - 1825, April 15, 2019. (Invited paper)
K. Choutagunta, I. Roberts, D. A. B. Miller and J. M. Kahn, “Adapting Mach-Zehnder Mesh Equalizers in Direct Detection Mode-Division-Multiplexed Links”, IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 38, no. 4, pp. 723 - 735, February 15, 2019.
K. Choutagunta, S. Ö. Arik, K.-P. Ho and J. M. Kahn, “Characterizing Mode-Dependent Loss and Gain in Multimode Components”, IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 36, no. 18, pp. 3815 - 3823, September 15, 2018.
K. Choutagunta and J. M. Kahn, “Dynamic Channel Modeling for Mode-Division Multiplexing”, IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. 35, no. 12, pp. 2451 - 2463, January 23, 2017.
K. Vijayraghavan, Y. Jiang, M. Jang, A. Jiang, K. Choutagunta, A. Vizbaras, F. Demmerle, G. Boehm, M.C. Amann and M.A. Belkin, “Broadly tunable terahertz generation in mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers,” Nature Communications, vol. 4, no. 2021, pp. 22-26, May 17, 2013.

Conference Publications

D. A. A. Mello, H. Srinivas, E. Chou, K. Choutagunta and J. M. Kahn, “Impact and Mitigation of Polarization- or Mode-Dependent Amplifier Gain in Ultra-Long-Haul Systems”, Proceedings of 2020 International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks, Bari, Italy, July 19-23, 2020. (Invited talk)
K. Choutagunta and J. M. Kahn, “Optimization-Assisted Design of Multimode Fibers”, Proceedings of 2020 IEEE Photonics Society Summer Topicals, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, July 13-15, 2020. (Invited talk)
K. Choutagunta and J. M. Kahn, “Dynamic Mode Coupling in MDM Systems”, Proceedings of 2020 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, San Jose, CA, May 10-15, 2020. (Invited talk)
K. Choutagunta, I. Roberts, J. M. Kahn and D. Miller, “Mach-Zehnder Mesh Adaptation Methods for Direct-Detection Mode-Division Multiplexing”, Proceedings of 2019 IEEE Photonics Society Summer Topical on Programmable Photonics, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, July 8-10, 2019. (Invited talk)
R. Ryf, N. K. Fontaine, S. Wittek, K. Choutagunta, M. Mazur, H. Chen, J. C. Alvarado-Zacarias, “Recent Advances in Mode-Multiplexed Transmission over Multimode Fibers”, Proceedings of 2019 Conference on Lasers and Electro-Optics, San Jose, CA, May 10-15, 2019.
K. Choutagunta, R. Ryf, N. K. Fontaine, S. Wittek, J. C. Alvarado-Zacarias, M. Mazur, H. Chen, R.-J. Essiambre, R. Amezcua-Correa, T. Hayashi, Y. Tamura, T. Hasegawa, T. Taru, J. M. Kahn, “Modal Dynamics in Spatially Multiplexed Links”, Proceedings of Optical Fiber Communication Conference, San Diego, CA, March 3-8, 2019. (Invited talk)
S. Wittek, R. Ryf, N. K. Fontaine, K. Choutagunta, M. Mazur, H. Chen, J. C. Alvarado-Zacarias, M. Capuzzo, R. Kopf, A. Tate, H. Safar, C. Bolle, D. T.Neilson, E. Burrows, K. Kim, M. Bigot-Astruc, F. Achten, P. Sillard, J. M. Kahn, J. Schröder, Rodrigo Amezcua-Correa, J. Carpenter, “Mode-Multiplexed Transmission Within and Across Mode Groups of a Multimode-Fiber”, Proceedings of Optical Fiber Communication Conference, San Diego, CA, March 3-8, 2019.
K. Choutagunta, S. Ö. Arik, K.-P. Ho, and J. M. Kahn, “Modal Dispersion and Mode-Dependent Loss in Multimode Fibers: Modeling, Measurement and Compensation”, Proceedings of IEEE Photonics Conference 2018, Reston, VA, September 30-October 4, 2018. (Invited talk)
R. Ryf, N. K. Fontaine, S. Wittek, K. Choutagunta, M. Mazur, H. Chen, J. C. Alvarado-Zacarias, R. Amezcua-Correa, M. Capuzzo, R. Kopf, A. Tate, H. Safar, C. Bolle, D. T. Neilson, E. Burrows, K. Kim, M. Bigot-Astruc, F. Achten, P. Sillard, A. Amezcua-Correa, J. M. Kahn, J. Schröder, J. Carpenter, “High-Spectral-Efficiency Mode-Multiplexed Transmission over Graded-Index Multimode Fiber”, Proceedings of 44th European Conference on Optical Communication Post-Deadline Session, Rome, Italy, September 23-27, 2018.
K. Choutagunta, I. Roberts and J. M. Kahn, “Modeling and Tracking Dynamic Mode Coupling in MDM Systems”, Proceedings of 44th European Conference on Optical Communication, Rome, Italy, September 23-27, 2018. (Invited talk)
K. Choutagunta and J. M. Kahn, “Reduced Complexity Modeling of Mode-Division Multiplexing Dynamics”, Proceedings of IEEE Photonics Society Summer Topical on SDM and Beyond, Waikoloa, HI, July 9-11, 2018. (Invited talk)
K. Choutagunta, I. Roberts and J. M. Kahn, “Fixed and Adaptive Modal Optics for Mode-Division Multiplexing”, Proceedings of Stanford Photonics Research Center Workshop on Optimized, Arbitrary and Reconfigurable Optics, Stanford, CA, November 16-17, 2017. (Invited talk)
K. Choutagunta and J. M. Kahn, “Low-Complexity Modeling of Dynamic Mode-Division Multiplexing Channels”, Proceedings of OSA Topical Meeting on Photonic Networks and Devices, New Orleans, LA, July 24-27, 2017. (Invited talk)
J. M. Kahn, A. Belmonte and K. Choutagunta, “Understanding and Approaching Fundamental Limits to Free Space Optical Communication Through the Turbulent Atmosphere”, Proceedings of NSF Workshop on Free Space Optical Networks, Arlington, VA, July 13-14, 2017. (Invited talk)
K. Choutagunta, S. Ö. Arik, M. Moradshahi and J. M. Kahn, “Optical MIMO Signal Processing for Direct-Detection Mode-Division Multiplexing”, Proceedings of 2017 International Conference on Transparent Optical Networks, Girona, Catalonia, Spain, July 2-6, 2017. (Invited talk)
K. Choutagunta and J. M. Kahn, “Dynamic Channel Modeling for Mode-Division Multiplexing”, Proceedings of European Conference on Optical Communication, Düsseldorf, Germany, September 18-22, 2016. (Invited talk)
S. Ö. Arik, K. Choutagunta and J. M. Kahn, “Direct-Detection Mode-Division Multiplexing Enabled by Phase Retrieval”, Proceedings of European Conference on Optical Communication, Düsseldorf, Germany, September 18-22, 2016. (Invited talk)
K. Choutagunta and J. M. Kahn, “Dynamic Channel Modeling for Mode-Division Multiplexing”, Proceedings of IEEE Photonics Society Summer Topical on Space-Division Multiplexing and Multimode Photonics, Newport Beach, CA, July 11-13, 2016. (Invited talk)
K. Choutagunta et. al, “Future Communication Paradigms: Theory to Practice”, presented at National Instruments Week Conference, Austin, TX, 2014. (poster)

Patents

K. Choutagunta and J. M. Kahn, "Method for Designing an Optical Fiber With High-Performance Topology", U. S. provisional patent application filed January 16, 2020.

Other Publications

K. Choutagunta, “Spatial Multiplexing in Optical Communications”, Ph.D. Thesis, Stanford University, December 2019.
K. Choutagunta, “Signal Processing for Optical Fiber Communications”, Undergraduate Honors Thesis, The University of Texas at Austin, May 2014.

Employment History

Stealth Startup, Staff Engineer, 1/2020-Present
Stanford University, Graduate Research Assistant, 9/2014-12/2019
Nokia Bell Labs, Research Intern, 8/2018-10/2018
Stanford University, TA for EE 102A Signal Processing and Linear Systems I, 1/2018-3/2018
Facebook, Infrastructure Intern, 7/2017-9/2017
Apple, Wireless Design Intern, 6/2016-9/2016
Stanford University, TA for EE 266 Stochastic Control, 3/2016-6/2016
Stanford University, TA for EE 273 Digital Systems Engineering, 3/2016-6/2016
Stanford University, Grader for ENGR 207B Linear Control Systems 2, 1/2016-3/2016
Apple, Wireless Design Intern, 9/2015-12/2015
Intel, Undergraduate Intern, 9/2012-5/2014
Coherent Logix, Student Programmer Intern, 6/2012-8/2012
UT Austin, Math Tutor, 9/2011-12/2011
UT Austin, Undergraduate Research Assistant, 5/2011-5/2014

Graduate Coursework

Communications: EE 379: Digital Communication, EE 392AA: Advanced Digital Transmission, EE 384E: Networked Wireless Systems
Signal Processing: EE 278: Introduction to Statistical Signal Processing, EE 373A: Adaptive Signal Processing, Music 421A: Audio Applications of the Fast Fourier Transform, EE 378B: Inference, Estimation, and Information Processing
Machine Learning: CS229: Machine Learning, CS221: Artificial Intelligence Principles and Techniques, CS 224N: Natural Language Processing with Deep Learning, CS231N: Convolutional Neural Networks for Visual Recognition
Optics/Photonics: EE 236B: Guided Waves, EE 234: Photonics Laboratory, EE 340: Optical Micro and Nano Cavities, EE 348: Advanced Optical Fiber Communications, EE 346: Introduction to Nonlinear Optics
Optimization/Control: EE 364A: Convex Optimization I, EE 263: Introduction to Linear Dynamical Systems, EE 266: Stochastic Control
Other: CS 223A: Introduction to Robotics, EE 273: Digital Systems Engineering

Recognitions

Stanford Graduate Fellowship - Cisco Systems Fellow, highest award offered to Stanford graduate students
IEEE Summer Topicals Conference 2018 Travel Grant Recipient
Outstanding Volunteer for the IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology in 2016
UT Austin ECE Centennial Scholarship
UT Austin Unrestricted Endowed Presidential Scholarship
UT Austin Distinguished Engineering Scholar

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