Title :
Linearity performance of multi-stage TWT amplifiers: Cascade vs. series
Author :
Nguyen, Khanh ; Pasour, John ; Wright, Edward ; Abe, David ; Ludeking, Lars ; Pershing, Dean ; Levush, Baruch
Author_Institution :
Vacuum Electron. Branch, US Naval Res. Lab., Washington, DC, USA
Abstract :
Key performance characteristics that guide the selection of an amplifier for various applications are gain, power, linearity, and efficiency. In this paper, these parameters are contrasted for two amplifier configurations: a single-beam amplifier with stages placed in series vs. a multi-beam amplifier with cascading stages. Based on MAGIC-3D simulations, while gain and efficiency are comparable, the novel cascading amplifier configuration provides significant improvements in terms of power for a given level of linearity, both AM/AM and intermodulation distortions, over those of a conventional serial approach.
Keywords :
amplifiers; intermodulation distortion; travelling wave tubes; MAGIC-3D simulations; intermodulation distortions; linearity performance; multi-beam amplifier; multi-stage TWT amplifiers; single-beam amplifier; Gain; Intermodulation distortion; Linearity; Power amplifiers; Power generation; Radio frequency; Topology; AM/AM; Multiple beam; TWT; amplifier; folded waveguide; intermodulation; linearity; serpentine;
Conference_Titel :
Vacuum Electronics Conference (IVEC), 2011 IEEE International
Conference_Location :
Bangalore
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4244-8662-5
DOI :
10.1109/IVEC.2011.5746999
