Investigation of power amplifier performance under load mismatch conditions

The time-varying loading conditions that power amplifiers (PAs) experience in active antenna systems degrade their overall performance. Consequently, the design of linear and highly-efficient PAs under mismatch is more important than ever. In this paper, different common and promising PA architectures, i.e. class-B, balanced, Doherty (DPA) and load-modulated-power-amplifier (LMBA), are analyzed under mismatch. Their sensitivity in terms of linearity, efficiency and output power is compared under a LTE signal excitation. Average drain efficiency (DE), average output power, normalized-mean-square-error (NMSE) as well as maximum output power variations are presented for each architecture as function of the voltage-standing-waveratio (VSWR). Thereby, the most suitable PA architecture to be integrated in active antenna systems may be identified.