High-gain sub-decibel noise figure low noise amplifier for atmospheric radar

Abstract

This article presents the design of a compact and low-cost single-stage narrow band low-noise amplifier (LNA) for atmospheric radar application. Active feedback technique is employed to improve linearity without affecting the noise figure and gain. The source-degenerated inductor topology is used along with the cascaded transistors to achieve stability with maximum gain and minimum noise figure simultaneously. High-pass input and output matching circuits are used to improve input and output return losses. The amplifier was implemented on a low-loss substrate RT/duroid with pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (pHEMT) technology at 1.3 GHz. The measured results of LNA exhibit a gain of 28 dB and noise figure of 0.39 dB. The input and output return losses are <10.8 dB and third-order input intercept point is 33 dBm. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:1618–1622, 2016