Analog Predistortion of K-band GaN for 10W Linear Output Power and 30% Power Added Efficiency

As GaN SSPAs begin to supplant TWTAs in space applications, the need for predistortion linearization will follow just as it had been for TWTAs in high data rate communications. This paper reports best-in-class performance for a linearized Kband GaN device. Measurement shows 10W of linear output power and corresponding power added efficiency at 30% when analog predistortion is applied. This is the highest reported efficiency for a packaged K-band GaN device and is achieved with nearly ideal linear performance with <; 0.3dB between Psat and PldB.