A DC-100 GHz Bandwidth and 20.5 dB Gain Limiting Amplifier in 0.25µm InP DHBT Technology

A DC-100 GHz limiting amplifier is designed and fabricated in a 0.25μm InP DHBT technology. The amplifier is designed in two stages using a modified Cherry-Hooper architecture proceeding an emitter-follower at each stage. Consuming 145 mW of power from a -2.5 V supply, it achieves 20.5 dB differential S21 gain with less than 1 dB gain ripple and better than 20 dB and 15 dB input and output return losses, respectively. The group delay of S21 is 9 psec with a variation less than ±5.5 psec around that. Time domain large signal measurements verifies a single-ended output swing of 260 mV.