E-band Radiation Hardened Low Noise Amplifier

ABSTRACT: QuinStar Technology proposes to develop a low noise amplifier (LNA), operating at E-band frequencies (81-86 GHz), with SOA noise performance, enhanced linearity and low power consumption. This will be accomplished by employing a combination of SOA device technology and innovative circuit techniques. The key to the noise performance is the short gate length (35 nm) devices fabricated with InP HEMT semiconductor materials. For this technology, we propose to team with the industry leader, Northrop Grumman. Based on their models, simulations indicate MMIC noise figures of 1.1 dB at E-band frequencies. To enhance the amplifier linearity and reduce its power consumption, we are proposing two circuit innovations: a cascode circuit configuration to improve the amplifier linearity, and biasing the amplifier stages in series (current reuse) to reduce power consumption. Neither of these techniques has been attempted before at these millimeter-wave frequencies. Simulations indicate that we can simultaneously improve the amplifier linearity while reducing the power consumption. In fact, simulations indicate that we can reduce IM products by 30-40 dB, resulting in an OIP3 of 27 dBm with a power consumption of only 16 mW. Finally, this amplifier will be packaged using QuinStar"s SOA low-loss E/W-band waveguide packaging technology. BENEFIT: Future MILSATCOM terminals require low noise, linear amplifiers for space based receivers operating at non-traditional millimeter-wave frequencies such as E-band (81-86 GHz). Linearity (high OIP3) is required in order handle advanced spectrally efficient modulation schemes such as 16-QAM, and low power is required both for power consumption reasons and to reduce self-heating. In addition to space-based SATCOM applications, this ultra low-noise technology is expected to find applications in other space applications including broadband RF cross-link communications in constellations, as well as airborne including very high altitude long duration reconnaissance UAVand terrestrial applications. Specific examples include the Joint Arial Layered Network (JALN), the ICD effort from STRATCOM and AISR. Further, this low noise MMIC technology can be readily applied to other military missions at adjacent frequencies such as V/W-band. QuinStar is currently producing the transceiver for the AARGM missile program, and this low-noise technology, if successful, will be applied to the AARGM missile receiver, thereby improving its performance and reducing its cost.