Ku-band GaN HPA MMIC with high-power and high-PAE performances

A Ku-band high-power and high-power-added efficiency (PAE) high-power amplifier (HPA) monolithic microwave-integrated circuit (MMIC) is demonstrated with a 0.25 μm gallium nitride (GaN) high electron mobility transistor technology on a silicon carbide substrate. Measured continuous-wave performances for the two-stage HPA in-fixture exhibit 17.5-18.3 W of output power (P_OUT) and 36.4-39.5% of PAE over the frequency range of 13.5-14.5 GHz. The fabricated two-stage HPA MMIC with all matching networks is as small as 3.3 × 3.5 mm, generating an output power density of 1522 mW/mm².