T13 – Signal Shaping: From Theoretical Foundations to Emerging Communication Paradigms in 6G and Beyond

Co-presenter: Yunus Can Gültekin, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands
Co-presenter: Alex Alvarado, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands

Abstract: This half-day tutorial focuses on signal (constellation) shaping, a fundamental technique for achieving the Shannon capacity of the Gaussian channel. Shaping is a research field that has undergone a renaissance since the late 2010s driven by advances in probabilistic amplitude shaping (PAS) and the need for rate adaptivity in modern communications. Today, shaping is a key component in most optical transceivers, is being considered for inclusion in emerging wireless communication standards such as 6G and Wi-Fi 8, and is under active development for next-generation use cases including joint communication and sensing (JCAS). This tutorial will begin with an introduction to the theory of signal shaping and its integration into coded modulation for digital communication systems. We will then review different shaping architectures, discussing their finite-length performance, implementation complexity, and practical realizations focusing on FPGA-based designs. Next, we will cover advanced shaping techniques developed for non-Gaussian channels, e.g., channels with memory, non linearity, or mobility. Finally, we will explore emerging applications of shaping, emphasizing its potential in future JCAS systems. The goal of this tutorial is to equip the audience with both a theoretical foundation and practical design insights necessary to develop modern “shaped” communication systems that operate close to their ultimate performance limits for 6G and beyond.

Co-presenter’s Bios:

Yunus Can Gültekin:

Yunus Can Gültekin received the B.Sc. and the M.Sc. degrees from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, in 2013 and 2015, respectively. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in 2020 from the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), the Netherlands. During 2020-2023, Gültekin held a postdoctoral position at TU/e. Since January 2024, he has been a permanent research staff member at TU/e. Since January 2023, he also does part-time freelance work. His research has received multiple awards, including Best Paper awards at the 2018 WIC/IEEE Symposium on Information Theory and Signal Processing in the Benelux and at the 2022 Optica Advanced Photonics Congress, a 2023 Quantum Delta NL exchange visit grant, and a 2024-2025 International Excellence Fellowship from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. His technical expertise and research interests lie in the intersection of information theory and communication theory, with a particular focus on the design of coded modulation and constellation shaping techniques for wireless, optical, and quantum communications.

Alex Alvarado:

Alex Alvarado received the electronics engineering degree (Ingeniero Civil Electrónico) and the M.Sc. degree (Magíster en Ciencias de la Ingeniería Electrónica) from the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Valparaíso, Chile, in 2003 and 2005, respectively, and the Licentiate of Engineering (Teknologie Licentiatexamen) and Ph.D. degrees from the Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden, in 2008 and 2011, respectively.

From 2011 to 2012, he was a Newton International Fellow with the University of Cambridge, U.K. From 2012 to 2014, he was a Marie Curie Intra-European Fellow with the University of Cambridge. From 2014 to 2016, he was a Senior Research Associate with the Optical Networks Group, University College London, U.K. He is currently a Full Professor with the Signal Processing Systems (SPS) Group, Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), the Netherlands. His research has been funded in part by Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) via a VIDI Grant, as well as by the European Research Council (ERC) via an ERC Starting Grant. His general research interests include digital communications, coding, and information theory. His research has received multiple awards, including the Best Paper Award from the 2018 and 2023 Asia Communications and Photonics Conference, the 2019 OptoElectronics and Communications Conference, the 2022 Optica Advanced Photonics Congress, and the Best Poster Award from the 2009 IEEE Information Theory Workshop and the 2013 IEEE Communication Theory Workshop. He was a recipient of the 2015 IEEE Transactions on Communications Exemplary Reviewer Award and the 2015 Journal of Lightwave Technology Best Paper Award. He served as an Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Communications (Optical Coded Modulation and Information Theory) from 2016 to 2018. From 2018 to 2020, he served in the OFC Subcommittee Digital and Electronic Subsystems (S4). He also served in the ECOC Subcommittee Theory of Optical Communications from 2019 to 2022.