长期从事层析成像与分布参数反演理论方法及应用研究，针对大型油气田开发、煤清洁高效燃烧、先进航空发动机研发等国家重大需求中的复杂多相流分布参数测量问题，取得了一系列独具特色的创新成果，在本领域权威期刊上，发表SCI检索论文80余篇，EI检索论文数十篇（不含SCI检索），主要论文可见于 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3649-9512，研制了相应的仪器设备并获得应用。主持国家级、省部级科研项目10余项，其中，包括国家自然科学基金重点项目和中英人才项目在内的国家自然科学基金7项，并受到牛顿高级学者基金（Newton Advanced Fellowship）资助。授权发明专利50余项，软件著作权4项，受邀参与撰写中文专著1部、英文专著2部。

(1)复杂流场层析成像及分布参数反演

(2)基于激光的先进燃烧诊断及新一代成像技术

(3)电磁探测及成像

(1)教授研究生课程《成像技术》、《计算机控制系统与技术》

(2)教授本科生课程《自动测试原理与系统》

(1)Shuang Qiu,Zhang Cao*, Xiaoqian Zhang, and Lijun Xu. Single Spectral Line Method for TDLAS Imaging of Temperature and Water Vapor Concentration. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, pp. 1-11, Feb. 2023.

(2)Wanpeng Zhang,Zhang Cao*, Hongyu Zhang, Heng Xie, Zhen Ye, and Lijun Xu. Distribution Retrieval of Both Depth and Reflectivity in 3-D Objects via Using Modulated Single Pixel Imaging. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, pp. 1-11, Jan. 2023.

(3)Xin Gao,Zhang Cao*, Jinting Wen, Lijun Xu, Wuqiang Yang. Radial Basis Function Coupled SART Method for Dynamic LAS Tomography. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, pp. 1-10, Jan. 2023.

(4)Wenbin Zhou,Zhang Cao*, Guangyu Hou, Lijun Xu. Noise Immune Absorption Profile Extraction for the TDLAS Thermometry Sensor by Using an FMCW Interferometer. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, pp. 1-11, Feb. 2023.

(5)Xin Gao,Zhang Cao*, Hongyao Li, Fanghao Lu, Ang Huang, Lijun Xu. Sparse Zernike Fitting for Dynamic LAS Tomographic Images of Temperature and Water Vapor Concentration. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, vol. 71, pp. 1-14, Apr. 2022.

(6)曹章,高欣,陆方皞, &徐立军. (2022).激光吸收光谱层析成像及复杂燃烧场动态监测.中国激光, 49(19), 11-32.

(7)Die Hu,Zhang Cao*, Liuyong Chang, Lijun Xu*, Revised Calderon Method of Annular ECT for Imaging Flashback Flame of a Bluff-Body Burner, IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, Vol. 70, pp. 4505610,1-10, Jul. 2021.

(8)Xiaoyang Tang,Zhang Cao,Zhonghong Wang, Heng Xie, Lijun Xu. Retrieval of phase and temperature distributions in axisymmetric flames from phase-modulated large lateral shearing interferogram. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement. Vol. 70, 4503512, pp. 1–12, March. 2021

(9)Yu Tian,Zhang Cao*, Die Hu, Xin Gao, Lijun Xu, Wuqiang Yang. A Fuzzy PID-Controlled Iterative Calderon’s Method for Binary Distribution in Electrical Capacitance Tomography. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, vol. 70, pp. 1-11, 4502911, Jan. 2021.

(10)Ang Huang,Zhang Cao*, Chenran Wang, Jinting Wen, Fanghao Lu, and Lijun Xu, An FPGA-based on-chip neural network for TDLAS tomography in dynamic flames. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, Vol. 70, pp. 4506911,1-11, Oct. 2021.

(11)Ang Huang,Zhang Cao*, Wenshuai Zhao, Hongyu Zhang, Lijun Xu. Frequency-Division Multiplexing and Main Peak Scanning WMS Method for TDLAS Tomography in Flame Monitoring. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement. Vol. 69, No. 11, pp. 9087–9096, Nov. 2020.

(12)Liuyong Chang,Zhang Cao, Bo Fu, Yuzhen Lin, Lijun Xu*. Lean blowout detection for bluff-body stabilized flame. Fuel. Vol. 266, No. 117008, Apr 15, 2020.

(13)Xin Gao,Zhang Cao*, Yu Tian, Lijun Xu and Wuqiang Yang. Inverse Radon Method Based on Electrical Field Lines for Dual-Modality Electrical Tomography. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement. Vol. 69, No. 10, pp. 8250-8260, Oct. 2020.

(14)Hongyu Zhang,Zhang Cao*, Wenshuai Zhao, Ang Huang, Zhaoyu Cai, and Lijun Xu*. A compact laser absorption spectroscopy tomographic system with short spectral scanning time and adjustable frame rate. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement. Vol. 69, No. 10, pp. 8226-8237, Oct. 2020.

(15)Yugang. Ren,Zhang Cao*, Xiaoyang Tang, Heng Xie, Lijun Xu, " μm-resolution thickness distribution measurement of transparent glass films by using a multi-wavelength phase-shift extraction method in the large lateral shearing interferometer," Optics Express. 27(3), 2899-2914 (2019)

(16)Ang Huang,Zhang Cao*, Shijie Sun, Fanghao Lu, & Lijun Xu (2019). An agile electrical capacitance tomography system with improved frame rates. IEEE Sensors Journal, 19(4):1416-1425

(17)Die Hu,Zhang Cao*, Shijie Sun, Jiangtao Sun, & Lijun Xu*. (2018). Dual-Modality Electrical Tomography for Flame Monitoring[J]. IEEE Sensors Journal, 2018，18（21）:8847-8854.

(18)Zhang Cao*, Li Ji, Lijun Xu (2018). Iterative Reconstruction Algorithm for Electrical Capacitance Tomography Based on Calderon’s Method. IEEE Sensors Journal, 18(20), 8450-8462.

(19)He Niu,Zhang Cao*, Heng Xie, Jiawen Zhang, & Lijun Xu (2018). An iterative algorithm based on the dual integral inversion for particle sizing. IEEE Transactions on Instrumentation and Measurement, 67(7), 1729-1737.

(1)2019年，教育部技术发明一等奖、英国皇家学会牛顿高级学者

(2)2015年，国家级杰出人才获得者

(3)2014年，仪器仪表学会科学技术一等奖

(4)2012年，教育部技术发明一等奖

(1)受限空间内燃烧多参数三维成像测量方法，国家自然科学基金委重点项目，主持，2021.1-2025.12；

(2)层析成像与分布参数反演，国家自然科学基金委，主持，2016.1-2018.12

(1)牛顿高级学者，2019.3-2022.2

(2)中国仪器仪表学会高级会员，2017.3-至今

(3)IEEE高级会员，2022.01-至今

(4)中国仪器仪表学会图像科学与工程分会委员，2017.3-至今

(5)中国计量测试学会多相流测试专业委员会委员，2012.6--至今

(6)Measurement期刊Associateeditor，2020.01-至今

(7)国际工业过程层析成像学会理事（ISIPT Consultative Scientific Panel），2018.08-至今