20 Gigahertz (GHz) Radiation Hardened Solid State Power Amplifier (SSPA) for Satellite Communications (SATCOM) Downlinks

ABSTRACT: Auriga will complete the development of an innovative linearized K-band High Power Amplifier (HPA) in 24 months with one additional month for the final report. This innovative approach is expected to bring revolutionary performance (close to 40% PAE under QPSK). Auriga"s HPA will have a linearizer integrated in the MMIC and packaged, requiring no other interface or digital chips to accomplish the required linearity goals. Its feasibility has been shown during Phase I as a proof-of-concept (POC) demonstration. We scheduled two design and fabrication cycles of the GaN HEMT MMIC process before delivery of compact linearized HPA modules that meet or exceed requirements. BENEFIT: The linearizer technology developed under this SBIR supports the high data-rate requirements of future transformational communications satellites terminals. Demand for higher data-rates is ever present and growing. Although the primary target of this SBIR is for satellite communication systems in K-band, the linearizer technology addressed in this program is readily applicable to other communication programs throughout the DoD agencies. The need for highly efficient, high-linear transmitters is vital for many modern communication systems. A large application potential also exists in the purely commercial communication market, where demand for high data-rate is ever increasing. Cellular base stations and point-to-point terminals will benefit from this technology.