Ka-band monolithic GaAs PHEMT low-noise amplifiers for commercial wireless applications

This paper presents the development of a one-stage and a two-stage Ka-band monolithic LNA for commercial wireless communication applications. The monolithic microwave/millimeter-wave integrated circuits (MMICs) are fabricated with a 0.2-micrometers pseudomorphic GaAs-based HEMT technology, carried out by commercially available foundry. The one-stage amplifier demonstrated a measured small signal gain of 9.5 dB with a noise figure (NF) of 2.7 dB at 28 GHz, while the two-stage amplifier has a measured gain of 17 dB with 3.3 dB NF at 28 GHz. Due to fabrication with the commercial foundry process, these MMICs have the potential for mass production.

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