Aspects of the design of low noise, negative resistance, reflection mode transistor amplifiers

The authors consider the use of microwave transistors in the negative resistance reflection mode and present the conditions for optimum noise performance. Possible advantages include the possibility of higher gain in the millimeter-wave region, which can be achieved by absorbing the parasitic common lead inductance into the feedback circuit designed to generate the negative resistance, and the existence of a failsafe mode of operation, in that the failure of the active device or its power supply is likely to lead a low return loss, resulting in a small insertion loss through the amplifiers, which may permit continued, although degraded, system operation. The latter potential advantage has proved to be of interest to radar system designers