Research

This page organises my research into a set of themes and links to representative publications on each topic.
For a complete list, please visit my Google Scholar page.

Selected Publications

• M. Rowshan, S. H. Dau, and E. Viterbo, “On the Formation of Min-weight Codewords of Polar/PAC Codes and Its Applications,” IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory, vol. 69, no. 12, pp. 7627–7649, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.1109/TIT.2023.3319015.
• M. Rowshan, A. Burg, and E. Viterbo, “Polarization-adjusted (PAC) Codes: Sequential Decoding vs List Decoding,” IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 1434–1447, 2021, doi: 10.1109/TVT.2021.3052550.
• M. Rowshan, M. Qiu, Y. Xie, X. Gu, and J. Yuan, “Channel Coding Towards 6G: Technical Overview and Outlook,” IEEE Open J. Commun. Soc., vol. 5, pp. 2585–2685, 2024, doi: 10.1109/OJCOMS.2024.3390000.
• M. Rowshan and V. F. Dragoi, “Weight Structure of Low/High-Rate Polar Codes and Weight Contribution-based Partial Order,” IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory, vol. 71, no. 12, pp. 9340–9358, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.1109/TIT.2025.3616283.
• M. Rowshan and J. Yuan, “Segmented GRAND: Complexity Reduction through Sub-pattern Combination,” IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 73, no. 8, pp. 5607–5620, Aug. 2025, doi: 10.1109/TCOMM.2025.3541094.
• X. Gu, M. Rowshan, and J. Yuan, “CRC-Polar-Inspired PAC Codes: Enumeration and Minimum-Weight Codewords Pruning,” in IEEE Trans. Commun., Early Access, 2026, doi: 10.1109/TCOMM.2026.3745109.
• M. Rowshan, “Locality-Aware Quantum LDPC Codes Over Asymmetric Optical Links in Modular Architectures,” IEEE Networking Letters, 2026, doi: 10.1109/LNET.2026.3743210.

A. Quantum Error Correction (QEC) and Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing (FTQC)

1. Quantum code constructions and algebraic structure

Designing and analysing qLDPC codes through algebraic structure, with emphasis on properties that can be exploited for better codes or logical operations.

Representative work

• M. Rowshan and S. Devitt, “Logical Operator Decomposition for Distance Analysis of Bivariate Bicycle Codes,” submitted to IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, October, 2026; also submitted to Quantum Information Processing (QIP) 2027, Singapore.
• M. Rowshan, “Structural Analysis of Directional qLDPC Codes,” submitted to Journal of Mathematical Physics, June, 2026.
• M. Rowshan, “Strip-Symmetric Quantum Codes for Biased Noise: Z-Decoupling in Stabilizer and Floquet Codes,” in the proceedings of 2026 IEEE Int. Symp. Inf. Theory (ISIT), Guangzhou, China.

2. Quantum decoding, syndrome redundancy, and fault diagnosis

Developing decoding methods and understanding how noisy or incomplete syndrome information can still support reliable error correction.

Representative work

• M. Rowshan, “Metachecks in Bivariate Bicycle Codes: Syndrome Distance, Measurement Faults, and Repair Limits,” submitted to IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, October, 2026; also submitted to Quantum Information Processing (QIP) 2027, Singapore.
• M. Rowshan, “Single-Shot and Few-Shot Decoding via Stabilizer Redundancy in Bivariate Bicycle Codes,” in the proceedings of 2026 IEEE Int. Symp. Inf. Theory (ISIT), Guangzhou, China.
• M. Rowshan, “Bias-Aware BP Decoding of Quantum Codes via Directional Degeneracy,” 2016.

3. Fault-tolerant logical operations and quantum architectures

Using code structure to make fault-tolerant computation and hardware implementation more efficient, particularly beyond simply storing quantum information.

Representative work

• M. Rowshan, “Native Non-Clifford Gates in qLDPC Codes: Conditions, Synthesis, and Scaling Limits,” to appear in the proceedings of IEEE Quantum Computing and Engineering (QCE), Sep, 2026.

4. Quantum Communications and Networks

Codes and protocols for moving and preserving quantum information across noisy, resource-constrained links rather than within a single device — distributed QEC over modular interconnects, goal-oriented quantum communication, codes suited to non-Markovian channels, and related directions.

Representative work

• M. Rowshan, “Locality-Aware Quantum LDPC Codes Over Asymmetric Optical Links in Modular Architectures,” IEEE Networking Letters, 2026, doi: 10.1109/LNET.2026.3743210.

B. Error Correction Codes for Communications Systems

1. Channel Coding - Polar and PAC Codes: Structure, Algebra, and Weight Distribution

Focus and contributions

• Algebraic and combinatorial structure of polar and PAC codes (monomial / group-action viewpoint).
• Exact and partial weight enumerators, with emphasis on minimum- and low-weight codewords.
• Weight-based partial orders and their use in code design and performance prediction.

Representative publications

• M. Rowshan and V. F. Dragoi, “A Tutorial on Weight Structure of Polar Codes,” IEEE BITS the Information Theory Magazine, pp 1-14, 2026.
• M. Rowshan and V. F. Dragoi, “Generalized Weight Structure of Polar Codes: Selected Template Polynomials,” in the proceedings of 2026 IEEE Int. Symp. Inf. Theory (ISIT), Guangzhou, China, June, 2026.
• V. F. Dragoi and M. Rowshan, “Algebraic Properties of PAC Codes,” in the proceedings of 2026 IEEE Int. Symp. Inf. Theory (ISIT), Guangzhou, China, June, 2026.
• M. Rowshan and V. F. Dragoi, “Weight Structure of Low/High-Rate Polar Codes and Weight Contribution-based Partial Order,” IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory, vol. 71, no. 12, pp. 9340–9358, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.1109/TIT.2025.3616283.
• V. F. Dragoi, M. Rowshan, and J. Yuan, “On the Closed-form Enumeration of Polar Codes: 1.5d-Weight Codewords,” IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 72, no. 10, pp. 5972–5987, Oct. 2024, doi: 10.1109/TCOMM.2024.3394749.
• M. Rowshan, S. H. Dau, and E. Viterbo, “On the Formation of Min-weight Codewords of Polar/PAC Codes and Its Applications,” IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory, vol. 69, no. 12, pp. 7627–7649, Dec. 2023, doi: 10.1109/TIT.2023.3319015.
• [J10] M. Rowshan and J. Yuan, “On the Minimum Weight Codewords of PAC Codes: The Impact of Pre-Transformation,” IEEE J. Sel. Areas Inf. Theory, vol. 4, pp. 487–498, 2023, doi: 10.1109/JSAIT.2023.3312678.
• M. Rowshan and J. H. Yuan, “Fast Enumeration of Minimum Weight Codewords for PAC Codes,” 2022 IEEE Information Theory Workshop (ITW), Mumbai, India, 2022, pp. 255–260, doi: 10.1109/ITW54588.2022.9965901.
• M. Rowshan, V. F. Dragoi, and J. Yuan, “Weight Structure of Low/High-Rate Polar Codes and Weight Contribution-based Partial Order,” IEEE Trans. Inf. Theory, vol. 71, no. 12, pp. 9340–9358, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.1109/TIT.2025.3616283.
• M. Rowshan, V. F. Dragoi, and J. Yuan, “Weight Structure of Low/High-Rate Polar Codes and Its Applications,” in Proc. IEEE Int. Symp. Inf. Theory (ISIT), Athens, Greece, 2024, pp. 2945–2950, doi: 10.1109/ISIT57864.2024.10619618.
• V. F. Dragoi and M. Rowshan, “On Polar Codes Weight Distribution,” in Proc. IEEE Int. Symp. Inf. Theory (ISIT), Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 2025, pp. 1–6, doi: 10.1109/ISIT63088.2025.11195548.

2. Channel Coding - Construction of (Pretransformed) Polar Codes

Focus and contributions

• Design of polar codes that explicitly incorporate weight distribution into the construction.
• Hybrid reliability–weight constructions (e.g., “retransform” polar codes) that go beyond standard Bhattacharyya-parameter–based designs.
• Bridging algebraic weight results with practical finite-length code design.

Representative publications

• X. Gu, M. Rowshan, and J. Yuan, “CRC-Polar-Inspired PAC Codes: Enumeration and Minimum-Weight Codewords Pruning,” in IEEE Trans. Commun., Early Access, 2026, doi: 10.1109/TCOMM.2026.3745109.
• M. Rowshan and V. F. Dragoi, “A Hybrid Reliability–Weight Framework for Construction of Polar Codes,” 2016.
• M. Rowshan and V. F. Dragoi, “Towards Weight Distribution-Aware Polar Codes,” in Proc. IEEE Int. Symp. Inf. Theory (ISIT), Ann Arbor, MI, USA, 2025, pp. 1–6, doi: 10.1109/ISIT63088.2025.11195275.
• X. Gu, M. Rowshan, and J. Yuan, “PAC Codes Meet CRC-Polar Codes,” in Proc. IEEE Inf. Theory Workshop (ITW), Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2025, pp. 1–6, doi: 10.1109/ITW62417.2025.11240368.
• X. Gu, M. Rowshan, and J. Yuan, “Reverse Convolutional Precoding of Polar Codes: Design, Analysis, and Decoding Algorithms,” IEEE Open J. Commun. Soc., vol. 6, pp. 7184–7199, 2025, doi: 10.1109/OJCOMS.2025.3644338.
• M. Rowshan and E. Viterbo, “How to Modify Polar Codes for List Decoding,” in Proc. IEEE Int. Symp. Inf. Theory (ISIT), Paris, France, 2019, pp. 1772–1776, doi: 10.1109/ISIT.2019.8849539.
• X. Gu, M. Rowshan, and J. Yuan, “Improved Convolutional Precoder for PAC Codes,” in Proc. IEEE Global Commun. Conf. (GLOBECOM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2023, pp. 1836–1841, doi: 10.1109/GLOBECOM54140.2023.10437715.
• X. Gu, M. Rowshan, and J. Yuan, “Rate-Compatible Shortened PAC Codes,” in Proc. IEEE/CIC Int. Conf. Commun. China (ICCC) Workshops, Dalian, China, 2023, pp. 1–6, doi: 10.1109/ICCCWorkshops57813.2023.10233795.

3. Channel Coding - Advanced Decoding Algorithms for Polar, PAC, and Related Codes

Focus and contributions

• Low-complexity decoding of polar and PAC codes beyond standard SC and SCL schemes.
• GRAND-based decoders with segmentation, constrained error pattern generation, and improved complexity–performance trade-offs.
• Sequential, list, and Fano-type decoders, including partial rewind and shifted-pruning strategies.
• Connections between code structure (e.g., weight distribution) and decoder behaviour.

Representative publications

• M. Rowshan, A. Burg, and E. Viterbo, “Polarization-adjusted (PAC) Codes: Sequential Decoding vs List Decoding,” IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol. 70, no. 2, pp. 1434–1447, 2021, doi: 10.1109/TVT.2021.3052550.
• M. Rowshan and E. Viterbo, “List Viterbi Decoding of PAC Codes,” IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol., vol. 70, no. 3, pp. 2428–2435, Mar. 2021, doi: 10.1109/TVT.2021.3059370.
• M. Rowshan and E. Viterbo, “[On Convolutional Precoding in PAC Codes(),” 2021 IEEE Globecom Workshops (GC Wkshps), 2021, pp. 1–6, doi: 10.1109/GCWkshps52748.2021.9681987.
• M. Rowshan, A. Burg, and E. Viterbo, “Complexity-efficient Fano Decoding of Polarization-adjusted Convolutional (PAC) Codes,” in Proc. Int. Symp. Inf. Theory Appl. (ISITA), Virtual/Kapolei, HI, USA, 2020, pp. 200–204, doi: 10.34385/proc.65.B03-2.
• M. Rowshan and J. Yuan, “Segmented GRAND: Complexity Reduction through Sub-pattern Combination,” IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 73, no. 8, pp. 5607–5620, Aug. 2025, doi: 10.1109/TCOMM.2025.3541094.
• M. Rowshan and J. Yuan, “Low-Complexity GRAND by Segmentation,” in Proc. IEEE Global Commun. Conf. (GLOBECOM), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2023, pp. 6145–6151, doi: 10.1109/GLOBECOM54140.2023.10436895.
• M. Rowshan and J. H. Yuan, “Constrained Error Pattern Generation for GRAND,” in Proc. IEEE Int. Symp. Inf. Theory (ISIT), Helsinki, Finland, 2022, pp. 1767–1772, doi: 10.1109/ISIT50566.2022.9834343.
• M. Rowshan and E. Viterbo, “Efficient Partial Rewind of Successive Cancellation-based Decoders for Polar Codes,” IEEE Trans. Commun., vol. 70, no. 11, pp. 7160–7168, Nov. 2022, doi: 10.1109/TCOMM.2022.3207842.
• M. Rowshan and E. Viterbo, “Improved List Decoding of Polar Codes by Shifted-pruning,” 2019 IEEE Information Theory Workshop (ITW), Visby, Sweden, 2019, pp. 1–5, doi: 10.1109/ITW44776.2019.8989330.
• M. Rowshan and E. Viterbo, “Shifted-pruning for Path Recovery in List Decoding of Polar Codes,” 2021 IEEE 11th Annual Computing and Communication Workshop and Conference (CCWC), NV, USA, 2021, pp. 1179–1184, doi: 10.1109/CCWC51732.2021.9375833.
• M. Rowshan and E. Viterbo, “SC List-Flip Decoding of Polar Codes by Shifted Pruning: A General Approach,” Entropy, vol. 24, no. 9, p. 1210, 2022, doi: 10.3390/e24091210.
• M. Rowshan, E. Viterbo, R. Micheloni, and A. Marelli, “Repetition-assisted Decoding of Polar Codes,” Electron. Lett., vol. 55, no. 5, pp. 270–272, 2019, doi: 10.1049/el.2018.6940.
• M. Rowshan and E. Viterbo, “Stepped List Decoding for Polar Codes,” IEEE International Symposium on Turbo Codes & Iterative Signal Processing (ISTC), Hong Kong, Dec. 2018, pp. 1–5, doi: 10.1109/ISTC.2018.8625267.

4. Channel Coding for 5G, 6G, and Beyond

Focus and contributions

• System-level viewpoint on channel coding for 5G/6G: requirements, performance targets, and implementation constraints.
• Comparative assessment and evolution of LDPC, turbo/convolutional, polar/PAC, and related codes in standards.

Representative publications

• M. Rowshan, M. Qiu, Y. Xie, X. Gu, and J. Yuan, “Channel Coding Towards 6G: Technical Overview and Outlook,” IEEE Open J. Commun. Soc., vol. 5, pp. 2585–2685, 2024, doi: 10.1109/OJCOMS.2024.3390000.

C. Intersection of Communications Systems and Other Fields

1. Signal Processing for Wireless Communications

Focus and contributions

• Delay–Doppler channel estimation tailored to modern OFDM and multicarrier systems.
• Use of ambiguity functions and structured delay–Doppler representations to improve estimation accuracy and robustness.
• Impact of channel estimation on end-to-end coded performance.

Representative publications

• H. P. H. Shaw, M. Rowshan, and J. Yuan, “Improving OFDM Using Delay-Doppler Channel Estimation,” IEEE Open J. Commun. Soc., vol. 6, pp. 7184–7199, 2025, doi: 10.1109/OJCOMS.2025.3603197.
• H. P. H. Shaw, J. Yuan, and M. Rowshan, “Delay-Doppler Channel Estimation by Leveraging the Ambiguity Function in OFDM Systems,” in Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. Commun. (ICC) Workshops, Rome, Italy, 2023, pp. 307–313, doi: 10.1109/ICCWorkshops57953.2023.10283594.

2. VLSI and Hardware–Software Co-Design for Communication Systems

Focus and contributions

• Quantisation strategies for belief-propagation and list decoders, targeting hardware efficiency.
• Architectural design for BP decoding of polar codes with non-uniform quantisation.
• Low-complexity detection algorithms for OTFS modulation

Representative publications

• X. Gu, M. Rowshan, and J. Yuan, “A Non-Uniform Quantization-Based Hardware Architecture for BP Decoding of Polar Codes,” in Proc. Int. Symp. Commun. Inf. Technol. (ISCIT), Sydney, NSW, Australia, 2023, pp. 363–368, doi: 10.1109/ISCIT57293.2023.10376101.
• M. Rowshan, E. Viterbo, R. Micheloni, and A. Marelli, “Logarithmic Non-uniform Quantization for List Decoding of Polar Codes,” in Proc. IEEE Annu. Comput. Commun. Workshop Conf. (CCWC), Las Vegas, NV, USA, 2021, pp. 1161–1166, doi: 10.1109/CCWC51732.2021.9375932.

3. Machine Learning in Channel Coding and Communication Systems

Focus and contributions

• Ongoing research on machine-learning–assisted decoding (e.g., learned heuristics for GRAND or SCL variants).
• Data-driven design of channel estimation and detection algorithms.

Books

• M. Rowshan and E. Viterbo, Polar Codes: From Theory to Practice, Hoboken, NJ, USA: Wiley–IEEE Press, 2025, ISBN 978-1-119-91173-9.
• M. Rowshan and V.-F. Dragoi, The Algebra of Polar Codes: Partial Orders, Automorphisms, Weight Structures, and Applications, Hoboken, NJ, USA: Wiley–IEEE Press, 2027.

Patents

• H. P. H. Shaw, J. Yuan and M. Rowshan, “Delay-Doppler based channel estimation method and apparatus,” Australian Patent 2024900503, Feb. 28, 2024.