Broadband GaN Power Amplifier MMIC with a Nonuniform Transmission Line Output Network

This paper presents the design and measured results of a GaN MMIC single-stage power amplifier (PA) with a broadband non-uniform microstrip line output matching network that results in 40% fractional bandwidth centered roughly at 20 GHz with a gain >8 dB. The synthesis of the non-uniform transmission line (NTL) and its integration with the PA bias line are discussed. A meandering technique is implemented to miniaturize the NTL footprint on the MMIC. Measurements agree well with simulations, showing >8 dB small-signal gain from 16 – 26 GHz for this single-ended single-stage PA.