The influence of transistor nonlinearities on noise properties

A nonlinear field-effect transistor equivalent-circuit model is examined to identify the fundamental mechanisms that up-convert baseband 1/f noise to near-carrier sideband noise when the device is operated in the large-signal regime. This model captures all physical noise sources and nonlinearities in the transistor, and thereby allows a general cause-and-effect treatment. The noise sources in the equivalent-circuit model are determined using low-frequency spectrum analyzer and microwave noise-figure meter data. Using the example of an AlGaN/GaN high electron-mobility transistor, the developed model correctly describes both the measured near-carrier sideband amplitude and phase noise simultaneously.