ABSTRACT: Gallium nitride (GaN) technology has become a staple for high power amplifiers (PAs) used in radar applications. Moreover, the high power and/or the radar application often require the signals to be pulsed. Measuring and characterizing pulsed RF signals used in radar applications present unique challenges. Pulsed radar signals are “on” for a short time followed by a long “off” period. During “on” time, the system transmits anywhere from kilowatts to megawatts of power. The high-power pulsing can stress the power amplifier (PA) in a number of ways both during the “on/off” transitions and during prolonged “on” periods. As higher demands are being placed on these PAs in areas such as output power level, linearity, and efficiency, the behavior of the amplifier needs to be thoroughly tested and evaluated. The time domain nature of the pulsed RF signal necessitates time domain signal analysis. This article explains why a peak power meter is the ideal test instrument for characterizing the behavior of GaN power amplifiers used in radar systems.
Home » Resources » Application Notes »