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IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques
Volume 48 Number 10, October 2000

Table of Contents for this issue

Complete paper in PDF format

Power Performance and Scalability of AlGaN/GaN Power MODFETs

Egor Alekseev, Member, IEEE Dimitris Pavlidis, Fellow, IEEE Nguyen X. Nguyen, Member, IEEE Chanh Nguyen, Member, IEEE and David E. Grider

Page 1694.

Abstract:

The scalability of power performance of AlGaN/GaN MODFETs with large gate periphery, as necessary for microwave power devices, is addressed in this paper. High-frequency large-signal characteristics of AlGaN/GaN MODFETs measured at 8 GHz are reported for devices with gatewidths from 200 µm to 1 mm. 1-dB gain compression occurred at input power levels varying from -1 to +10 dBm as the gatewidth increased, while gain remained almost constant at 17 dB. Output power density was 1 W/mm for all devices and maximum output power (29.9 dBm) occurred in devices with 1-mm gates, while power-added efficiency remained almost constant at 30%. The large-signal characteristics were compared with those obtained by dc and small-signal S-parameters measurements. The results illustrate a notable scalability of AlGaN/GaN MODFET power characteristics and demonstrate their excellent potential for power applications.

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