The Matched Feedback Amplifier: Ultrawide-Band Microwave Amplification with GaAs MESFET´s

An ultrawide-band amplifier module has been developed that covers the frequency range from 350 MHz to 14 GHz. A minimum gain of 4 dB was obtained across this 40:1 bandwidth at an output power of 13 dBm. The amplifier makes use of negative and positive feedback and incorporates a GaAs MESFET that was developed with special emphasis on low parasitics. The transistor has the gate dimensions 800 by 1 mu m. The technology and RF performance of the GaAs MESFET are discussed, as are the design considerations and performance of the single-ended feed-back amplifier module.