Description
Objective: Power efficient 75W class solid state power amplifier module for active antenna applicationsTargeted Improvements: - Reduced mass and volume by more than 50% compared to travel wave tube amplifiers.- Increased power efficiency by 20% in comparison to current state of art, reaching at least 40% PAE at the nominal operation point in Ku-band or 35% in Ka-bandDescription: Satellite telecommunication systems have experienced an evolution of the overall architecture and are now often encompassing active antennain Ku- or Ka- band. For active antenna with only tens of beams, power amplifiers in the 75W class are needed. Currently only travelling wave tube amplifiers can simultaneously satisfy the bandwidth, efficiency and output power required to achieve an acceptable system performance with an acceptable size and mass of the thermal management equipment. Promising new semiconductor technologies in Europe, however, have the potential to provide a significant leap in transistor power efficiency, and have the potential to achieve significant mass reduction as well as lowering the complexity of the amplifier module.This activity will develop a high power 75W class solid state amplifier module breadboard in Ku- or Ka-band exploiting emerging European semiconductor technology for high efficiency and linearity. Particular attention shall be put on the design of the interface with the antenna and to the thermal interface aspects in order to maximise the efficiency of the SSPA.