Noise Power Ratio Prediction and Measurement of a Ku band GaN Power Amplifier

This work demonstrates the use of NPR in the design and testing of a 0.5 W Ku GaN power amplifier. Utilizing the method outlined in [1] the NPR is predicted from measured and simulated AM-AM and AM-PM characteristics. A NPR test set up is presented and sources of variance in the measurement are discussed. The measured NPR and the predicted NPR from measured AM to AM/PM agree within 0.5 dB over an 11 dB input range. The measured NPR and the predicted from simulated AM to AM/PM agree within 1 dB over a 10 dB input range.