GaN Amplifiers

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GaN Amplifiers

Gallium Nitride Wide Band-Gap HEMT

Empower RF has broad experience delivering high power GaN amplifiers into mission critical applications and was a very early adopter of GaN on SiC.. Although Empower has many product lines encompassing state-of-the-art Bipolar, MOSFET, LDMOS and GaAs FET devices, GaN has become the marquee technology for TWT replacement and other applications where improvement of SWaP is desired.

Why GaN Transistors?

The key characteristics that makes Gallium Nitride an enabling technology is its significantly higher power density and greater reliability. GaN's increased power density (W/mm) has enabled Empower to reduce power amplifier sizes, minimize cooling and heat-sink demands and package more power per given volume. With the increased efficiencies that GaN provides, Empower RF delivers more reliable, smaller and lighter broadband power amplifiers.

GaN -more specifically GaN on SiC -provides higher output power, longer pulse widths, and larger duty cycles and significantly higher MTTF than GaN on Si, GaAS HEMT, LDMOS, and MOSFET high power transistors.

Higher Breakdown voltages 60 to 80 VBRDSS (100-150 Volts)

Higher Power Density

Superior Thermal Conductivity

Example: LDMOS - 12W/sq. mm dissipation vs. GaN - 70W/sq. mm dissipation

Higher Junction Temperatures > 200°C (+225°C to 250°C)

Higher Saturated Electron Drift Velocity (higher current delivering capability)

Lower Intrinsic Capacitance which provides higher input/output device impedances allowing broadband matching

GaN provides High Gain and Efficiencies (Narrow band 50% to 60%)

Superior Noise & Linear Power Added Efficiency (PAE)

DEVICE TECHNOLOGY	FREQUENCY COVERAGE	PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGES	TRADE-OFFS
GaN (Gallium Nitride HEMT) High Electron Mobility Transistor	20-6000 MHz broadband 8-12 GHz narrowband 12-18 GHz narrowband 18-40 GHz narrowband Up to 100 GHz Future	Broadband Matching Ultra broadband operation Efficiency Linearity Ruggedness High Power Density	Thermal Resistance RӨjc is High Cost Low P1dB compression point Need Negative Bias Voltage Turn On/Off sequence
LDMOS (Lateral Diffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor FET)	20-1000 MHz broadband 1000-3000 MHz narrowband 3400-3800 MHz narrowband	Dynamic Range Efficiency Linearity Gain Simple Device Biasing Cost	Failure to Fast Pulse Fall Times Low input/output impedance Difficult to broadband match Failure to high power peaks Cautious under load VSWR
MOSFET VMOS, DMOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor FET)	20-100 MHz 100-500 MHz 500-1000 MHz	Dynamic Range Simple Device Biasing Ruggedness Fast Digital waveforms Handles peak power levels	Ultra Broadband Matching Upper Frequency Limit Linearity Efficiency Gain
GaAsFET (Gallium Arsenide MESFET) Metal Semiconductor FET	500-3000 MHz broadband 2000-4000 broadband 2-6 GHz narrowband 6-12 GHz narrowband 12-18 GHz narrowband 18-40 GHz narrowband	Linearity Ruggedness Fast Digital waveforms Handles peak power levels	Efficiency Low Gain Cost Availability Need Negative Bias Voltage Turn On/Off sequence
Bipolar (Silicon)	1-30 MHz 20-100 MHz 100-500 MHz 1200-1400 MHz 2000-3000 MHz narrowband 3000-3500 MHz narrowband	Proven Pulse Capability Highest Power Packaged Device Ruggedness Fast Digital waveforms Handles peak power levels Efficiency Class C Low Frequency operation	Ultra Broadband matching Efficiency Low Gain Linearity Biasing circuit

DEVICE TECHNOLOGY

FREQUENCY COVERAGE

PERFORMANCE ADVANTAGES

TRADE-OFFS

GaN
(Gallium Nitride HEMT)
High Electron Mobility Transistor

20-6000 MHz broadband
8-12 GHz narrowband
12-18 GHz narrowband
18-40 GHz narrowband
Up to 100 GHz Future

Broadband Matching
Ultra broadband operation
Efficiency
Linearity
Ruggedness
High Power Density

Thermal Resistance RӨjc is High Cost
Low P1dB compression point
Need Negative Bias Voltage
Turn On/Off sequence

LDMOS
(Lateral Diffused Metal Oxide Semiconductor FET)

20-1000 MHz broadband
1000-3000 MHz narrowband
3400-3800 MHz narrowband

Dynamic Range
Efficiency
Linearity
Gain Simple Device
Biasing Cost

Failure to Fast Pulse
Fall Times
Low input/output impedance
Difficult to broadband match
Failure to high power peaks
Cautious under load VSWR

MOSFET VMOS, DMOS
(Metal Oxide Semiconductor FET)

20-100 MHz
100-500 MHz
500-1000 MHz

Dynamic Range
Simple Device Biasing
Ruggedness
Fast Digital waveforms
Handles peak power levels

Ultra Broadband
Matching Upper Frequency Limit
Linearity Efficiency Gain

GaAsFET
(Gallium Arsenide MESFET)
Metal Semiconductor FET

500-3000 MHz broadband
2000-4000 broadband 2-6 GHz narrowband
6-12 GHz narrowband
12-18 GHz narrowband
18-40 GHz narrowband

Linearity
Ruggedness
Fast Digital waveforms
Handles peak power levels

Efficiency
Low Gain Cost Availability
Need Negative Bias Voltage
Turn On/Off sequence

Bipolar
(Silicon)

1-30 MHz
20-100 MHz
100-500 MHz
1200-1400 MHz
2000-3000 MHz narrowband
3000-3500 MHz narrowband

Proven Pulse Capability
Highest Power Packaged Device
Ruggedness
Fast Digital waveforms
Handles peak power levels
Efficiency Class C
Low Frequency operation

Ultra Broadband matching
Efficiency
Low Gain
Linearity
Biasing circuit

Download White Paper

Topics

Linearity vs Efficiency
Linearity Assessment Tool Comparison
IMD / 3rd Order Intercept
Noise Power Ratio
Crest Factor
Complementary Cumulative Distribution Function
Real World Crest Factor Assessment Example

GaN Amplifier Modules

SKU	Start (MHz)	Stop (MHz)	Pout (Watt)	Gain (dB)	Modulation Type	Size (Inch)	Quote
1116	20	520	10	40	CW/FM/AM	4.0x2.5x1.1	Get Quote
1124	20	1000	30	44	CW/FM/AM	6.4x3.4x1.1	Get Quote
1149	1000	2000	150	50	CW/FM/AM	7.4x4.1x1.06	Get Quote
1117	500	2500	25	44	CW/FM/AM	6.0x3.0x1.0	Get Quote Buy Now
1119	500	2500	50	46	CW/FM/AM	7.4x3.6x1.1	Get Quote Buy Now
1189	500	2500	100	50	CW/FM/AM	7.4x3.6x1.06	Get Quote Buy Now
1211	500	2500	100	57	CW/FM/AM/Pulse	7.0 x 4.0 x 1.1	Get Quote Buy Now
1113	1000	2500	50	46	CW/FM/AM	6.4x2.68x1.0	Get Quote
1205	500	2700	25	44	CW/FM/AM	6.0 x 3.0 x 1.0	Get Quote Buy Now
1209	500	2700	50	46	CW/FM/AM	7.4x3.6x1.1	Get Quote
1208	500	2700	100	50	CW/FM/AM	8.2x3.6x1.06	Get Quote Buy Now
1164	800	3000	50	50	CW/FM/AM	6.4x3.4x1.0	Get Quote Buy Now
1148	1000	3000	50	50	CW/FM/AM	6.4x3.4x1.1	Get Quote
1199	1000	3000	100	61	CW/FM/AM	7.0x4.0x1.1	Get Quote Buy Now
1146	1000	3000	100	10	CW/FM/AM	6.8x4.4x1.1	Get Quote
1184	700	3800	15	42	CW/FM/AM	6.0x3.0x1.0	Get Quote
1227	5400	5900	300	60	Pulsed	7.0 x 4.0 x 1.0	Get Quote
1219	500	6000	25	62	CW/FM/AM/Pulse	7.0x4.0x1.1	Get Quote
1212	2000	6000	50	61	CW/FM/AM	7.0 x 4.0 x 1.1	Get Quote Buy Now
1215	2000	6000	80	61	CW/FM/AM	9.0 x 5.0 x 1.1	Get Quote
1138	2500	6000	10	40	CW/FM/AM	6.0x3.0x1.0	Get Quote Buy Now
1131	2500	6000	35	48	CW/FM/AM	6.9x3.6x1.1	Get Quote Buy Now
1191	2500	6000	100	60	CW/FM/AM	8.0x6.5x1.0	Get Quote
1222	9000	10000	250	60	Pulse	7.0 x 4.0 x 1.0	Get Quote

Picture

SKU

Data
Sheet

Start
(MHz)

Stop
(MHz)

Pout
(Watt)

Gain
(dB)

Modulation
Type

Size
(Inch)

Quote

1116

520

CW/FM/AM

4.0x2.5x1.1

SKU	Start (MHz)	Stop (MHz)	Pout (Watt)	Gain (dB)	Modulation Type	Size (Inch)	Quote
2244	1000	1400	8000	74	Pulsed	40 U	Get Quote
2226	900	1600	2000	63	CW/FM/AM	R8U	Get Quote
2224	1000	2000	150	56	CW/FM	11 x 8 x 23.6	Get Quote
2206	1000	2000	2000	63	Pulse	R6U	Get Quote Rent
2207	1000	2000	4000	66	Pulse	R9U	Get Quote Rent
2208	1000	2000	8000	69	Pulse	R15U	Get Quote Rent
2237	1000	2000	40000	81	Pulse	40U	Get Quote
2176	1750	2120	4000	73	CW/FM/AM/Pulse	20U	Get Quote
2199	500	2500	200	60	CW/FM/AM/Pulse	R5U	Get Quote
2202	500	2500	1000	63	CW/FM/AM/Pulse	R8U	Get Quote
2180	1000	2500	2000	64	CW/FM/AM	R5U+R3U	Get Quote Rent
2193	1000	3000	80	49	CW, Pulse	R3U	Get Quote Rent
2194	1000	3000	250	54	CW, Pulse	R3U	Get Quote
2187	1000	3000	500	57	CW/FM/AM	R3U	Get Quote Rent
2170	1000	3000	1000	63	CW/FM/AM	R5U	Get Quote Rent
2211	2700	3200	1200	62	Pulse	R3U	Get Quote
2236	2800	3500	120000	72	Pulse	80 U	Get Quote
2239	2900	3500	1000	65	Pulse, CW	R3U	Get Quote
2229	2900	3500	2500	65	Pulse	R5U	Get Quote
2214	2900	3500	8000	70	Pulse	R19U	Get Quote
2213	2900	3500	10000	70	Pulse	R15U	Get Quote
2254	2900	3500	15000	75	Pulse	19RU	Get Quote
2153	700	3800	200	54	CW/FM/AM	R3U	Get Quote
2245	2000	4000	5000	68	CW/FM/AM/Pulse	R40U	Get Quote
2238	2000	4000	12000	76	Pulse, CW	40U	Get Quote
2240	5200	5900	800	65	Pulse, CW	R3U	Get Quote
2232	5200	5900	2500	65	CW, Pulse	R5U	Get Quote
2242	5200	5900	4000	67	Pulse	8RU	Get Quote
2217	5200	5900	8000	70	Pulse	R18U	Get Quote
2247	5400	5900	30000	81	Pulse, CW	R40U	Get Quote
2198	20	6000	100	49	CW, Pulse	R3U	Get Quote Rent
2223	500	6000	150	53	CW/FM/AM/Pulse	R5U	Get Quote Rent
2222	600	6000	50	50	CW/FM/AM/Pulse	R3U	Get Quote
2215	1900	6000	200	53	CW/FM/AM/Pulse	R5U	Get Quote
2196	2000	6000	35	46	CW, Pulse	R3U	Get Quote Rent
2197	2000	6000	80	49	CW, Pulse	R3U	Get Quote
2195	2000	6000	120	51	CW, Pulse	R3U	Get Quote
2241	9000	10000	1000	65	Pulse	R3U	Get Quote
2221	9000	10000	8000	70	Pulse	R20U	Get Quote