Scalable GaN-Based 64-Element Circularly-Polarized Transceiver with 65-dBm Saturated EIRP for Millimeter-Wave CubeSat Applications

This work introduces a scalable transceiver module consisting of 64-element circularly polarized (CP) antenna array, employing GaN technology. The antenna array is configured orthogonally to achieve CP and mitigate cross-polarization effects. Utilizing a high-power, linear power amplifier (P A) implemented in O.15-μm GaN high-electron mobility transistor (HEMT) technology, the module achieves a saturated equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) of 65 dBm with only 64 elements operating in the frequency range of 17–21 GHz. This configuration optimizes the module's dimensions, promoting scalability for diverse applications with stringent EIRP requirements, particularly suitable for CubeSat applications.