K/sub a/-band Monolithic GaAs Power FET Amplifiers

GaAs power MMIC amplifiers with an optimized FET structure operating at K/sub a/-band have achieved a small-signal gain of 4.3 dB and an output power of 481 mw. These 1.7 x 0.9-mm MMICs include DC-blocking capacitors and bias networks. A cascaded four-stage amplifier has achieved a power gain of 18.9 dB and output power of 437 mw at 28 GHz. These results may represent the highest power/gain yet demonstrated from cascaded stages of MMICs with on-chip bias and DC blocking at K/sub a/-band.