Team Members: Yaseen Essa, Majed Kharouf

Supervisors / Mentors: Prof. Hadar Steinberg

 

Charged particle detection techniques like Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy (PAS) require high-resolution RF measurements, typically captured as S-parameters and obtained using costly Vector Network Analyzers (VNAs). Graphene Field-Effect Transistors (GFETs) are emerging as powerful sensors in this context due to their sensitivity to charge variations caused by particle interactions. We present a compact, low-cost RF system for signal measurements spanning the MHz to GHz range, offering a practical alternative in cases where VNAs are excessively expensive and too complex for the application. Our design integrates a custom RF source supporting frequency sweeps up to 4.4 GHz, a power detection module, and a microcontroller-based interface for control and data acquisition. By monitoring transmission characteristics, we track impedance shifts in GFET sensors. This system offers a scalable, low-cost RF solution well-suited for ultra-sensitive charged particle sensing, with potential applications in the development of portable RF systems.