A 20 GHz Band 0.5 W GaAs FET Amplifier for Satellite Communications

GaAs FET amplifier modules for 20 GHz band satellite communications have been developed using newly developed power FETs. The deep recess gate structure was adopted in the power FET, which improved both power output capability and power gain. Power added efficiency of 22 percent with more than 1 W power output has been achieved with 3 mm gate width FETs. The amplifier modules containing two-stage internally matched FET's can be hermetically sealed in metal packages. The modules had 8.4-8.9 dB linear gain in the 17.7-18.8 GHz band and 7.9-8.4 dB linear gain in the 18.5-19.6 GHz band. The power output at 1 dB gain compression point was more than 0.5 W. The third-order intermodulation distortion ratio was 81-83 dB at 18.2 GHz and 77-80 dB at 18.9 GHz, when individual output signal power was -4 dBm.