Experimental Investigation of Characteristics and Development of Nonlinearity Models for FR1-Range Radio-Frequency Amplifiers

Abstract

Experimental studies of nonlinear properties of low-power radio-frequency amplifiers similar to those used in 4G/5G mobile communication equipment of the FR1 frequency range are carried out. The measurements of the characteristics of the amplifiers are performed by using the double-frequency testing technique at frequencies of the n7 band (2500–2570 / 2620–2690 MHz), which is allocated in Belarus for 4G mobile communication systems, and the n78 band (3300–3800 MHz), which is planned to be used in Belarus for 5G mobile communications. Based on the results of the measurements of double-frequency characteristics of the amplifiers, their single-tone amplitude characteristics, as well as two-tone characteristics and values of the dynamic range of 3-, 5-, 7-, and 9th order intermodulation in the first harmonic zone, high-order polynomial models of transfer characteristics of the investigated amplifiers are synthesized. The synthesized models are suitable for use in a wide dynamic range of input signals in case of simultaneous modeling of nonlinear effects of all kinds that pose a danger to radio reception in a complex electromagnetic environment created in the frequency bands of mobile (cellular) communications: both “subtle” effects (intermodulation) and “rough” effects (desensitization, cross-modulation). When using the technology of discrete nonlinear analysis of the behavior of radio equipment in a complex electromagnetic environment, the obtained models provide high efficiency of simulation and quantitative analysis of nonlinear processes and radio interference occurring in 4G/5G/6G radio equipment and networks in a complex electromagnetic environment.