0.13µm CMOS low noise amplifier for 40GHz radio-over-fiber system

This paper presents the design methodology and implementation of a cascode low-noise amplifier (LNA) for 40GHz radio-over-fiber (RoF) system. The proposed LNA is implemented in 0.13μm CMOS technology. The single-stage LNA achieves a maximum measured small-signal gain of 8.87dB at 41.25GHz while consuming 18.3mW from a 2.0V supply. Measurement results also display a good input and output return losses, which is less than -10dB at the operating frequency which is centered at 38.5GHz. Simulation results show a noise figure of 5dB, an input 1-dB compression of -9.51dB and an output 1-dB compression point of -2.23dB at 38.5GHz.