GaN Power Amp Operates Over 2 to 6 GHz

Pasternack, a provider of RF, microwave and millimeter wave products, has announced its PE15A5025 50 Watt gallium nitride (GaN) coaxial power amplifier operating in the 2 to 6 GHz frequency band.  The compact and rugged design delivers high levels of output power and efficiency, and has the advantage of high output load impedance that makes port matching easier over wider bandwidths using lower loss components. Applications include commercial and military radar, jamming systems, medical imaging, wireless communications and electronic warfare.

Pasternack’s PE15A5025? gallium nitride power amplifier. Source: Pasternack

The amplifier from Pasternack offers 50 dB of small signal gain with a saturated output power level of +47 dBm typical and 30% power added efficiency (PAE). While generating 50 watts of saturated output power under worst case conditions, the output harmonic response is -15 dBc and spurious levels are kept at -70 dBc. The amplifier requires a +28 Vdc power supply and is unconditionally stable.

Other features include integrated voltage regulation, bias sequencing circuitry, DC control TTL logic, DC current monitoring and over temperature shutdown at +90°C baseplate temperature for added reliability.

The PE15A5025 amplifier uses female SMA input/output RF connectors and a 15 Pin Micro-D Female socket is used for DC, TTL blanking, and over current and temperature monitoring. The assembly operates over the temperature range of -40 °C and +85 °C and is designed to withstand humidity, altitude, shock and vibration. An external heatsink with fan for cooling is recommended.