Operating channel temperature has an important influence on the electrical performance and reliability of GaAs FET amplifiers but this parameter is difficult to determine experimentally or analytically. Simplified closed-form and numerical models are commonly used although both are subject to errors in the case of sub-micron heat sources surrounded by epitaxial layers. Some assumptions about the heat source size and location are explored using finite-difference simulation. A simple measurement technique making use of the temperature coefficient of gate metal resistance is described, and an improved procedure for spatial averaging correction of infrared measurements of sub-micron heat sources is proposed.
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