120-W Ku-Band GaN SSPA with Diode Linearizer for Future Broadcasting Satellites

Abstract

Satellite broadcasting of 4K/8K ultra-high definition television (UHDTV) was launched in Japan in December 2018. Because this system uses the amplitude and phase shift keying (APSK) modulation scheme, there is a need to improve the non-linear characteristics of the satellite transponders. To meet this requirement, we have been developing a 120-W-class Ku-band solid state power amplifier (SSPA) as a replacement for the currently used traveling wave tube amplifier (TWTA). In this study, we developed a gallium-nitride (GaN) SSPA and linearizer (LNZ). The SSPA achieved an output power of 120 W while maintaining a power added efficiency (PAE) of 31%. We evaluated the transmission performance of 16APSK in this SSPA channel in comparison with that in the TWTA channel.