AEROSPACE CHINA

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China Aerospace Academy of Systems Science and Engineering

ISSN 1671-0940

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AEROSPACE CHINA ›› 2018, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (3): 17-22.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1671-0940.2018.03.003

• Reviews • Previous Articles     Next Articles

A Comparison of GaN VS GaAs System Performance

  

  1. Norsat International
  • Online:2018-08-24 Published:2019-11-29
  • About author:Michael Schefter, Chief Scientist, Norsat Division. Mr.Schefter has over 30 years of experience in satellite and system design & development from component to system level. His work experience spans a variety of industries including VSAT’s, defense, military and government satellite systems. He is responsible for leading Norsat’s research and development team for all activities related to microwave components and satellite terminals. Mr. Schefter has a MSc of Electrical Engineering, and BSc in Mathematics and Engineering. Mehdi Ardavan, received the Ph.D. degree in electrical and computer engineering in 2014 from Concordia University in Montreal. Dr. Ardavan has more than 12 years of academic and industrial experience in electromagnetics, antennas, microwaves and satellite communications.

Abstract: Traditionally RF power amplifiers used Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) technology which has a well behaved and understood performance. Over the past few years Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology is replacing GaAs because GaN is 
more efficient and has a higher power density resulting in higher power MMICs and FETs.
Subject to system link budgets, we usually want to run a given amplifier as close to saturation as possible to minimize CAPEX costs. Running an amplifier closer to saturation causes many non-linear effects that can cause link performance degradation and interfere with other users.
To better understand and quantify the differences between GaN and GaAs amplifiers and the impact of this on system performance, some amplifier and system measurements will be taken. The findings will be documented in a white paper.