A Ku-band 40W high efficiency solid-state power amplifier

Abstract

A Ku-band 40W high efficiency solid-state power amplifier (SSPA) has been developed. In order to achieve high efficiency, a Ku-band high efficiency internal-matched HFET and a small size and a low loss wave-guide combiner are developed and employed. The developed HFET achieves a power-added efficiency (PAE) of 37.5% and P1dB of 41.8dBm at base temperature (Tb) of 40degC. The source and load impedance of the HFET are matched to the optimum impedances for high temperature. The developed HFET achieves PAE of 33.8% and P1dB of 41.1 dBm over temperature range from -15 to 100 degC. The developed wave-guide combiner achieves insertion loss of less than 0.1dB. A Ku-band SSPA has been developed by using these components. It achieves an output power of 47.3 dBm (53.7W) and PAE of 25.6% at 14.2GHz and Tb of 25 degC, and achieves an output power of 46.4 dBm (43.6W), PAE of more than 21.9% and a linear gain of 36 dB at 14.0-14.4GHz over the temperature range from -15 to 95degC.