A low-distortion K-band GaAs power FET

A K-band low-distortion GaAs power MESFET was developed by incorporating a pulse-type channel doping profile using molecular-beam-epitaxial technology and a novel 0.3-μm T-shaped gate. The low-distortion FETs offer about 10 to 15 dBc improvement in second-harmonic distortion compared to devices fabricated on a uniformity doped active layer. Significantly larger power load-pull contours are obtained with the low-distortion devices, indicating the improved linearity of these devices. In an 8-20-GHz single-stage broad-band amplifier, up to 10 dBc improvement in harmonic performance was achieved using the low-distortion device. This low-distortion device exhibits very linear transconductance as a function of the gate bias. A typical 750-μm-gate-width device is capable of 26 dBm of output power with 6 dB of gain, and power-added efficiency in excess of 35% when measured at 18 GHz. At 25 GHz, the device is capable of 24 dBm of output power with 5 dB associated gain