Experimental linear solid state communications amplifier

The objective of the linear solid state communications effort was to determine the feasibility of developing a five (5) watt linear solid state amplifier having a minimum efficiency of ten (10) percent, third order intermodulation products down by 30 dBc, and operating within the 7.1 to 8.4 GHz communications band. An experimental model of a linear solid state amplifier was developed, tested, and delivered under this contract for the purpose of determining the above feasibility and objectives. The amplifier which was developed, tested, and delivered displayed 3 watts of power output, 160 MHz bandwidth at the -1 db points, -30 dBc IMD, and 35 db of linear gain. The saturated power output was 6.5 watts with 33 db of gain. Linear efficiency was 5% and saturated efficiency was 10%. Group delay was better than 0.8 nanoseconds per 14 MHz. Noise figure was 8.7 db. Phase vs power output was approximately 0.5 degree per db in the linear regions of operation.