Comparison of load-pull measurement results of a 4 W pHEMT involving five European laboratories

Load and source pull measurement data has for some time now been a critical and integral part of the power amplifier design process, offering accurate performance data of the actual device that is to be used. This data can be used directly to generate graphical representations of key parameters such as output power, efficiency and gain as functions of source and load impedance, for model verification or perhaps more interestingly as the basis of a model itself. There are a number of excellent research groups across Europe looking into these interesting areas, however until recently, collaboration and dissemination of information has been limited. TARGET, a network of excellence has provided a close working relationship between these groups where, for the first time these key capabilities have been compared and contrasted.