18 GHz high gain, high efficiency power operation of AlGaAs/GaAs HBT

Abstract

Outstanding power performance has been achieved from an AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructure bipolar transistor (HBT) at 18 GHz. A common emitter HBT has achieved 48.5% added efficiency, 6.2-dB associated gain, and 0.17-W output power. Common base operation of the HBT exhibits higher gain at 18 GHz: 0.358 W (3.58 W/mm) was achieved with 11.4-dB gain and 43% added efficiency; at a reduced power level of 0.174 W (1.74 W/mm), 15.3-dB associated power gain was achieved with 40% efficiency. This performance compares favorably with the results reported for MESFETs, HEMTs (high-electron-mobility transistors), and PBTs (permeable-base transistors).< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>