Dual Ka/Q-Band Low Noise Amplifiers

TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Space Platforms OBJECTIVE: Develop dual Ka-band and Q-band low noise amplifiers for satellite communications (SATCOM), point-to-point digital radios, and wideband receiver applications. DESCRIPTION: Signal noise poses a significant challenge to long-distance satellite communications, impacting bit error rates, the level of transmitter radiated power required to close the link, and, indirectly, the payload size, weight and power. The purpose of this topic is to develop dual Ka/Q-band, innovative, state-of-the-art low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) using advanced low-noise Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) processes to demonstrate compact, producible, dual-band Ka-band and Q-band LNAs for space and terrestrial applications. This topic is intended to support research exploring the best approach and process for achieving low noise and high gain over both Ka and Q-band with optimum linearity (measured by the output third-order intercept point, or OIP3, across the frequency of operation). The goal is to demonstrate the ~2 dB noise figure level-of-performance that can currently be achieved in separate Ka-band and Q-band low-noise amplifiers for satellite application, but instead accomplish this noise figure performance in a single dual-band LNA. Overall performance goals include simultaneous operation at Ka-Band (27.5 to 31.0 GHz) and Q-Band (43.5-47 GHz), with noise figure at room temperature <2.0 dB, small signal gain >20 dB, input and output return loss better than -10 dB, power consumption <500 mW, IIP3 >5 dBm, OIP3 >25 dBm, and RF input survivability of 1W. An operating temperature range -40 to +85 degrees C is anticipated. The total dose radiation tolerance goal is 300 krad (Si). PHASE I: Design a dual Ka-band and Q-Band MMIC LNA meeting the objectives identified above. Validate the LNA design through modeling and simulation. PHASE II: Fabricate the LNA MMIC design(s) for dual Ka-band and Q-band. Characterize for amplifier noise, gain, linearity, and power consumption under typical operating conditions. PHASE III: Military low noise amplifiers for these frequency bands will support WGS and AEHF follow-on satellites and point-to-point digital radios. Commercial LNAs operating at these frequencies will support commercial millimeter-wave wireless and wideband receiver applications. REFERENCES: 1. Armengaud, V., Laporte, C., Jarry, B., Babak, L., 27 31 GHz MMIC low noise amplifier with filtering functions for space communication system, 19th International Crimean Conference, 14-18 Sept. 2009.2. Qiangji Wang, Yunchuan Guo, Ka-band self-biased monolithic gaas pHEMT low noise amplifier, Microwave Technology & Computational Electromagnetics (ICMTCE), 2011.3. Qian Ma, Leenaerts, D., Mahmoudi, R., A 30GHz 2dB NF low noise amplifier for Ka-band applications, Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits Symposium (RFIC), 2012.4. Yu-Lung Tang, Wadefalk, N., Morgan, M.A., Weinreb, S., Full Ka-band High Performance InP MMIC LNA Module, IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, 2006.5. Moyer, H.P., Kurdoghlian, A., Micovic, M., Lee, T., Q-Band GaN MMIC LNA Using a 0.15 m T-Gate Process, Compound Semiconductor Integrated Circuits Symposium, 2008.6. Schwantuschke et al; Q- and E-band Amplifier MMICs for Satellite Communication, IMS 2014, June 2014. KEYWORDS: Ka-band, Q-band, LNA, MMIC