Quantum information, optics & learning theory.

I'm a PhD candidate at Tel Aviv University, exploring questions at the intersection of quantum information, photonic hardware, and machine learning theory.

Advised by Prof. Yaron Oz · School of Physics & Astronomy

Khen Cohen
Research

What I work on

I'm drawn to problems that sit at the boundaries between fields. Much of my work focuses on quantum photonic computing — designing robust quantum gates in integrated circuits, building spatial mode transformers, and developing quantum key distribution protocols. I'm particularly interested in how ideas from robust control can make photonic quantum devices practical and scalable.

In parallel, I study quantum many-body physics — complexity diagnostics, quantum scrambling, localization transitions, and symmetry enhancement measurements in integrable models. I also explore foundational questions in machine learning theory (why gradient-based learning works, high-dimensional classification). I find that moving between these areas often leads to unexpected connections — methods from one field becoming tools in another.

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Quantum Information

Theory

Many-body localization, quantum scrambling, symmetry enhancement in integrable models, graph state fusion, and quantum switching protocols.

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Quantum Optics & Photonics

Theory Experiment

Integrated quantum gates, directional couplers, spatial mode sorting, optical neural networks, and hybrid QKD.

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AI & Learning Theory

Theory Experiment

Linearization principles in neural networks, Gaussian mixture classification, sparse coding, and generative models.

Click a research area to filter publications below

Scholarly Archive

Publications

Full list on Google Scholar and in my CV.

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Published

2026

Weak Correlations as the Underlying Principle for Linearization of Gradient-Based Learning Systems

O. Shem-or, K. Cohen, Y. Oz · ICLR (2026)

AI Theory
arXiv
2026

Single Plane Spatial Mode Sorter

K. Cohen, Y. Yosif-Or, Y. Oz, A. Arie · Optics Express (2026)

Optics Theory Experiment
Paper
2026

Generalized Type II Fusion of Graph States

N. Rimok, K. Cohen, Y. Oz · Phys. Rev. A (2026)

Quantum Info Theory
Paper
2025

Robust Photonic Quantum Gates With A Large Number of Waveguide Segments

K. Cohen, H. Suchowski, Y. Oz · Advanced Quantum Technologies (2025)

Optics Quantum Info Theory
Paper
2025

A Fiber-Optic Traffic Monitoring Network Trained with Video Inputs

K. Cohen, L. Hen, A. Lellouch · Scientific Reports (2025)

Optics AI Experiment
Paper arXiv
2024

Complexity Measure Diagnostic of Ergodic to Many-Body Localization Transition

K. Cohen, Y. Oz, D.-L. Zhong · Phys. Rev. B (2024)

Quantum Info Theory
Paper
2024

Temporal Super-Resolution using Multi-Channel Illumination Source

K. Cohen, D. Raviv, D. Mendlovic · MDPI Sensors (2024)

Optics Experiment
Paper
2023

Illumination-Based Color Reconstruction for the Dynamic Vision Sensor

K. Cohen, H. Levy, O. Hershko, D. Mendlovic, D. Raviv · MDPI Sensors (2023)

Optics Experiment
Paper
2022

Hardware Analysis for Motion Estimation Task

K. Cohen, G. Hodeda, E. Almog, D. Raviv, D. Mendlovic · Applied Optics (2022)

Optics Experiment
Paper

Under Review

PRL

High-Fidelity Integrated Quantum Photonic Logic Via Robust Directional Couplers

K. Cohen*, J. Piasetzky*, Y. Drori, A. Rotem, Y. Warshavsky, Y. Oz, H. Suchowski · Submitted to PRL

Optics Quantum Info Theory Experiment
arXiv
Optica Q.

High Fidelity CNOT Gates in Photonic Integrated Circuits

J. Piasetzky, A. Rotem, Y. Warshavsky, Y. Drori, K. Cohen, Y. Oz, H. Suchowski · Under review in Optica Quantum

Optics Quantum Info Theory Experiment
arXiv
ICML

DANCE in the Latent Space: Distribution Alignment for Noise and Content Extraction

I. N. Hidekel, G. Lifshitz, K. Cohen, D. Raviv · Under review in ICML

AI Theory
Review

Robust Characterization of Integrated Photonics Directional Couplers

J. Piasetzky, Y. Drori, Y. Warshavski, A. Rotem, K. Cohen, Y. Oz, H. Suchowski · Under review

Optics Experiment
arXiv
JSTARS

Short-Term Spatiotemporal Photo-Voltaic Power Generation Forecasting

Y. Katz-Danan, K. Cohen, J. Ostrometzky · Submitted to JSTARS

AI Experiment
Review

Classifying Overlapping Gaussian Mixtures in High Dimensions

K. Cohen, N. Levy, Y. Oz · Under review

AI Theory
arXiv
Intellectual Property

Patents

2026

Universal Spatial Optical Mode Transformer

US Patent (pending)
2025

Single Plane Spatial Mode Sorter

US Patent (pending)
2024

Robust Coupled Waveguides for Quantum Gates

US 63/704,436
2024

Traffic Monitoring via CNN with Fiber-Optic Sensing

US 63/663,951
2021

Person Identification in Video

US12236713B2
2021

Dynamic Vision Sensor Color Camera

US12167153B2
2021

High-Frequency Sensitive Neural Network

US20240281642A1
2021

Temporal Super-Resolution

US20240264308A1
2020

Dynamic Identity Authentication

US20230306094A1
Media

In the News

Presentations

Talks & Conferences

2025
Oral

QERNEL Quantum Conference

Bar Ilan University, Israel

2025
Poster

Sensing with Quantum Light

Bad Honnef, Germany

2024
Poster

ML Theory Summer School

Princeton University, USA

2024
Poster

Frontiers in Physics Conference

LMU Munich, Germany

2024
Invited

Global Young Scientists Summit

Singapore

2024
Conference

ML for Quantum Technology

Max Planck Institute, Germany

2024
Oral

Quantum Day — Cyber Week

Tel Aviv University, Israel

Education

2023 — Present

Ph.D. in Physics — Quantum Information & Technology

Tel Aviv University · Advisor: Prof. Yaron Oz

VATAT Doctoral '25Milner '24GYSS Singapore '24Shmeltzer '24

2022 — 2023

MBA — Coller School of Management

Tel Aviv University · Summa Cum Laude

Dean's List. San Diego Immersion Program.

2019 — 2022

M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering

Tel Aviv University · Summa Cum Laude · Advisor: Prof. David Mendlovic

Thesis: Hardware Analysis and Temporal Super Resolution for Motion Estimation.

KLA Prize '22Electro-optics '21Weinstein '21

2015 — 2019

B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering & B.Sc. in Physics

Tel Aviv University · Magna Cum Laude · Top 3%

Double degree. Research in silicon photonics at the Nano-Femto Lab (Prof. Haim Suchowski).

Dean's List ×4

Experience

01

DTect Vision Ltd.

Co-Founder · Hardware & Camera Team Lead · 2020–2023

Co-founded with Prof. David Mendlovic and Dr. Dan Raviv. Led hardware development and patent portfolio. TAU Ventures Accelerator.

02

Apple Inc.

Student Physical Design Engineer · Herzliya · 2017–2019

High-performance chip design at Apple's Israel R&D center.

Teaching & Mentoring

Lecturer

Imaging Systems and Optical Signal Processing

2025 – Present · Tel Aviv University

TA / Lect.

Classical Optics

2021 – 2022

TA / Lect.

Imaging Systems and Optical Signal Processing

2021 – 2025

TA

Waves Transmission and Distributed Systems

2019 – 2020

I've had the opportunity to supervise and mentor over 60 undergraduate students in their final-year research projects, and I find this one of the most rewarding parts of academic life.

Collaborators

Prof. Yaron Oz TAU Physics Prof. Haim Suchowski TAU Physics Prof. David Mendlovic TAU EE Prof. Ady Arie TAU EE Prof. Meir Feder TAU EE Dr. Dan Raviv TAU EE Dr. Ariel Lellouch TAU Geophysics Dr. Itay Hen USC / ISI Dr. De-Liang Zhong TAU Physics Prof. Kwek Leong Chuan NUS / CQT Prof. Alon Baabad TAU

Get in touch

I'm always happy to chat about research, potential collaborations, or new opportunities.