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A high-power solid state amplifier for Galileo satellite system exploiting European GaN technology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2016

Rocco Giofré ,
Paolo Colantonio ,
Elisa Cipriani ,
Franco Giannini ,
Laura Gonzalez ,
Francisco De Arriba  and
Lorena Cabria
Rocco Giofré*
Affiliation:
E. E. Department, University of Roma Tor Vergata, via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Roma, Italy. Phone: +39 06 7259 7346
Paolo Colantonio
Affiliation:
E. E. Department, University of Roma Tor Vergata, via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Roma, Italy. Phone: +39 06 7259 7346
Elisa Cipriani
Affiliation:
E. E. Department, University of Roma Tor Vergata, via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Roma, Italy. Phone: +39 06 7259 7346
Franco Giannini
Affiliation:
E. E. Department, University of Roma Tor Vergata, via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Roma, Italy. Phone: +39 06 7259 7346
Laura Gonzalez
Affiliation:
TTI Norte, Parque Científico y Tecn. de Cantabria, C/Albert Einstein 14, 39011 Santander, Spain
Francisco De Arriba
Affiliation:
TTI Norte, Parque Científico y Tecn. de Cantabria, C/Albert Einstein 14, 39011 Santander, Spain
Lorena Cabria
Affiliation:
TTI Norte, Parque Científico y Tecn. de Cantabria, C/Albert Einstein 14, 39011 Santander, Spain
*
Corresponding author:R. Giofré Email: giofr@ing.uniroma2.it
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Abstract

This paper describes the development of an L-Band (f0 = 1.575 GHz) high power and efficient solid state power amplifier (SSPA) designed for the European satellite navigation system (i.e. Galileo). The amplifier, developed in the framework of the European Project named SLOGAN, exploits the GH50-10 GaN technology available at United Monolithic Semiconductor foundry. The aim of the project is to offer, using as much as possible European technologies, a valid alternative to replace traveling wave tube amplifiers with more compact and reliable systems. All the SSPA functionalities, i.e. power supply, power conditioning and radio frequency amplification, are integrated in the developed architecture and accommodated in a single box with limited volume and mass. The required output power level is achieved by parallelizing several GaN die power bars of 12 and/or 25.6 mm. In continuous wave operating mode, the overall SSPA delivers an output power higher than 250 W at less than 2 dB of gain compression in the whole E1-band. Moreover, the registered gain and efficiency are higher than 67 dB and 54%, respectively.

Keywords

Solid state power amplifierGalileo SatelliteGaNSpace qualified
Type
Industrial and Engineering Paper
Information
International Journal of Microwave and Wireless Technologies , Volume 8 , Special Issue 4-5: EuMW 2015 Special Issue , June 2016 , pp. 691 - 702
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the European Microwave Association 2016 

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References

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