Case Study: Northeastern University achieves breakthroughs in real-time threat and tumor detection with Keysight network analyzers

Northeastern University Paves the Way for Novel Safety Mechanisms for Counterterrorism and Health Screening

Northeastern University’s ALERT center, led by Dr. Jose Martinez, needed to detect and locate targets—whether explosives or tumors—in cluttered environments from safe standoff distances. To support this multimodal wave‑propagation research, Northeastern used Keysight test instrumentation, specifically Keysight PNA‑X and ENA network analyzers, to collect precise electromagnetic, acoustic and thermoacoustic data.

Keysight’s PNA‑X and ENA analyzers provided high‑fidelity network measurements that validated simulations and models, enabling prototype validation and realistic demonstration systems. As a result, Keysight instrumentation helped confirm the feasibility of real‑time imaging applications—security portals, breast tumor detection and non‑contact skin‑burn classification—while also supporting student training and interdisciplinary research at Northeastern University.

Northeastern University