An MMIC low-noise amplifier design technique

Abstract

In this paper we discuss the design of low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) for both cryogenic and room-temperature operation in general and take the stability and linearity of the amplifiers into special consideration. Oscillations that can occur within a multi-finger transistor are studied and verified with simulations and measurements. To overcome the stability problem related to the multi-finger transistor design approach a parallel two-finger unit transistor monolithic microwave integrated circuit LNA design technique, which enables the design of wideband and high-linearity LNAs with very stable, predictable, and repeatable operation, is proposed. The feasibility of the proposed design technique is proved by demonstrating a three-stage LNA packaged in a WR10 waveguide housing and fabricated using a 35-nm InP HEMT technology that achieves more than a 20-dB gain from 75 to 116 GHz and 26-33-K noise temperature from 85 to 116 GHz when cryogenically cooled to 27 K.