Brandon E.J. Cortez

Brandon Cortez

PhD student, Electrical and Computer Engineering

Faculty advisors: John H. Booske, Nader Behdad

Brandon is a PhD student specializing in electromagnetics and vacuum electronics. He is from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and received his bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics from UW–Madison.

Brandon’s PhD research seeks to push the boundaries of X-ray Communications (XCOM) to enable faster and more effective data transfer. As Brandon explains, when spacecraft reenter the atmosphere, they travel at hypersonic speeds and begin to burn up. This phenomenon, called a plasma sheath, blocks radio communications such that astronauts must endure a communications blackout during the stressful reentry period.

“Research has shown that X-rays can penetrate the plasma sheath, unlike radio waves which only get reflected,” Brandon said. “If we can send X-rays that are encoded with signals, we can eliminate the blackout period and maintain communications with spacecraft in reentry, and any other hypersonic vehicle.”

Currently, XCOM research is limited, and data transfers more slowly than other modern communication methods. Brandon hopes that furthering XCOM technology will both solve the blackout astronauts face and also provide a new way to transmit data at ultra-fast rates. Researchers also believe that XCOM can transmit data in very tight beams, which would be less susceptible to interception, Brandon said.

“Ultra-fast data rates mean being able to move into a new era of advanced communication, one that is well-suited for communications in space, where X-rays can travel further than they do in our atmosphere,” Brandon said. “The vision of humanity’s future includes us becoming a space-faring civilization. Reaching that milestone involves upgrading all of our technology, including our communications, moving toward a technological era previously only seen in science-fiction.”

When he started graduate school in 2021, Brandon received the Graduate Engineering Research Scholars (GERS) fellowship, which he said gave him a unique and warm welcome to graduate school. He has appreciated having a community and network of graduate fellows and mentors, the professional development opportunities, and the financial support from the fellowship.

Furthermore, Brandon said the GERS fellowship was a key factor in him winning the National Science Foundation (NSF)’s Graduate Research Fellowship and being offered the Department of Defense Science and Mathematics Research for Transformation (SMART) Fellowship. Having access to mentors and other NSF fellows helped him revise his application for these awards which will push his career forward.

“The NSF GRFP fellowship has given me an increased stipend and has allowed me to become a part of a group of prestigious scholars,” Brandon said. “It has given me confidence and helped to reduce/eliminate the infamous imposter’s syndrome. It will fund me until I receive my PhD, allowing me to not worry about receiving any RA or TA positions.”