Low Noise Millimeter Wave LNA, Phase II

A broadband G-Band low noise amplifier has been designed using a 50nm MHEMT. The MHEMT model that was used for the design was measured.

The G-Band amplifier that will be developed under the Phase II program has significant NASA commercial applications. Many of NASA's remote sensing satellites for weather forecasting and tracking presently have water band sensors that operate at G-Band. However, these sensors have limited capability since low noise amplifiers are not available at the present time. These systems presently have mixer front ends with limited sensitivity. The G-Band low noise amplifier will greatly enchance the sensitivity of these systems as well as providing more accurate weather forecasting and tracking of storms such as hurricanes. The fact that the MMIC is based on a proven space process and can be inserted into space systems almost immediately is a unique advantage for this design. The development of the low noise G-Band amplifier using the 50nm device is an advancement in the state-of-the-art for low noise amplifiers.The innovative design can then be used to advance the low noise performance of MMIC amplifiers down to the microwave region. They can also be used to enhance the sensitivity of commercial satellite communication systems. In addition, the emerging market for imaging systems in the submillimeter and THz region could use a MMIC amplifier with this performance. In fact, JJW Consulting has developed and shipped a 140GHz Imaging system that was to be used for an all-weather landing system. The system used a 140GHz LNA. The sensitivity of this system could be enhanced by the inclusion of these amplifiers.

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