Title :
Analytical Modeling of Microwave Parametric Upconverters
Author :
Gray, Blake ; Melville, Bob ; Kenney, J. Stevenson
Author_Institution :
Sch. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Georgia Inst. of Technol., Atlanta, GA, USA
Abstract :
Parametric amplification is a well-studied phenomenon by which a nonlinear reactance mixes an RF large-signal (pump) with an IF small-signal (source) to generate mixing products with gain. In this paper, two analytical models are derived and validated that predict limitations in the gain and efficiency of a parametric upconverter associated with varactor tuning range and quality factor. The analytical models are validated by circuit simulations and by two breadboard upconverters.
Keywords :
microwave parametric amplifiers; varactors; analytical modeling; breadboard upconverters; microwave parametric upconverters; nonlinear reactance mixes; parametric amplification; quality factor; varactor tuning range; Analytical models; Capacitance; Circuits; Frequency; Gallium nitride; Performance analysis; Power system modeling; Q factor; Signal generators; Varactors; Amplifier; modeling; parametric amplifiers (paramps); parametric circuits;
Journal_Title :
Microwave Theory and Techniques, IEEE Transactions on
DOI :
10.1109/TMTT.2010.2053064
