F-band Solid-State Power Amplifier (106-114 GHz)

An F-band SSPA is required for the Scanning Microwave Limb Sounder on the Global Atmospheric Composition Mission and the SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) airborne observatory.nbsp;The proposed amplifier will drive the LO multiplier chain for mixers in the submillimeter-wave detector.We are using the state-of-the-art (SOA) GaN device technology based on wide bandgap materials to fabricate a solid-state power amplifier operating at F-band (106-114nbsp;GHz) frequencies.GaN devices are operating in a ldquo;quasi-switchingrdquo; mode to achieve high drain efficiencies (gt;50%); higher efficiencies result in less DC power consumption, less waste heat and smaller heat sinks; the MMIC operate at lower temperatures and have longer lifetimes.A high-Q,nbsp;matching networknbsp;is developed on the MMIC to achieve the required powernbsp;(1.2nbsp;Watts) and Power-Added-Efficiency (28%).We are using an innovative power combining network with small form factor to achieve combining power (4+ Watts)nbsp;and efficiencies of greater than 90% over the band of 106 to 114 GHz.