Large-signal design of MMMIC Ka-band power amplifiers based on physical models

A quasi-two-dimensional physical model is used to predict the effects of process variations on the DC, small-, and large-signal behaviour of a pHEMT. A large-signal equivalent circuit model of the mm-wave pHEMT extracted from the physical model is used to predict the non-linear behaviour of an amplifier. A two-tone on-wafer source- and load-pull measurement system has been constructed to allow verification of the modelling procedure.