Lecture notes microwaves

Microwaves - Lecture Notes - v.1.3.4 Dr. Serkan Aksoy - 2009

Microwaves

Lecture Notes

Dr. Serkan Aksoy

v.1.3.4

2009

These lecture notes are heavily based on the book of Microwave Engineering by David M. Pozar. For future versions or any proposals, please contact with
Dr. Serkan Aksoy (saksoy@gyte.edu.tr).

Microwaves - Lecture Notes - v.1.3.4 Dr. Serkan Aksoy – 2009

Content
1. LUMPED CIRCUIT MODEL -----------------------------------------1
2. FIELD ANALYSIS of LINES -----------------------------------------1
2.1. Wave Propagation along the Line --------------------------------------------------------------------- 1
2.1.1. Lossless Transmission Lines ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2
2.1.2. Lossy Transmission Lines --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
2.2. Smith Chart-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3
2.3. Slotted Line-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
2.4. Generator & Load Mismatches ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4
3. MICROWAVE NETWORKS -----------------------------------------5
3.1. Voltage, Current and Impedance ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
3.2. Impedance & Admittance Matrices ------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
3.2.1. Scattering Matrix -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5
3.2.2. Transmission (ABCD) Matrix ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
3.3. Equivalent Circuits for 2 Port Networks ------------------------------------------------------------- 6
3.4. Signal Flow Graphs --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
4. IMPEDANCE MATCHING ------------------------------------------8
4.1. L Networks Matching------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
4.2. Quarter Wave Transformer ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8
4.3. Single Stub Tuning---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
4.4. Double Stub Tuning -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
4.5. Tapered Lines ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9
5. POWER DIVIDERS & COUPLERS ------------------------------ 10
5.1. Three Port Networks (T Junction) --------------------------------------------------------------------10
5.1.1. T Junction Power Divider ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
5.2. Four Port Networks (Directional Coupler) ---------------------------------------------------------10
5.2.1. Waveguide Directional Coupler ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 10
5.2.2. Wilkinson Power Divider ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
5.2.3. Hybrid Coupler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
5.2.4. Hybrid ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11
5.2.5. Coupled Line Directional Coupler -------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
5.2.6. Lange Coupler --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11
5.3. Other Couplers --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------11
6. NOISE & ACTIVE COMPONENTS ----------------------------- 12
6.1. Noise Figure, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------12
6.2. Dynamic Range & Intermodulation Distortion---------------------------------------------------13
6.3. RF Diode Characteristics --------------------------------------------------------------------------------14
7. MICROWAVE AMPLIFIER DESIGN --------------------------- 15
7.1. Two-Port Power Gains ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------15
7.2. Stability -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------15
7.3. Single Stage Amplifier Design ------------------------------------------------------------------------16
7.4. Broadband Amplifier Design--------------------------------------------------------------------------16
7.5. Power Amplifiers -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------16
7.5.1. Large Signal Characterization -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16



1. LUMPED CIRCUIT MODEL 2. FIELD ANALYSIS of LINES
Fields Circuits The idea is to find relations between and with .

: Real size of the circuit, : Wavelength

Circuit
Transmission Line

and will vary in magnitude and phase over its length.

where , and , , , are time-
averaged values calculated for length line and is the line
cross-sectional area.

2.1. Wave Propagation along the Line
Using the frequency domain Telegrapher equation

: Resistance per unit length ( ): Finite conductivity
: Inductance per unit length ( ): Self inductance of two wires
: Capacitance per unit length ( ): Proximity conductors where is propagation constant.
: Conductance per unit length ( ): Dielectric losses The solution of Telegrapher equation

Kirchoff' Voltage Law

Then, taking the derivation of , the calculation of
Kirchoff' Current Law

Taking the limit as , Telegraph equations
Then
Time domain

Converting to time domain by using

Frequency domain
where , , is the phase.

1



2.1.1. Lossless Transmission Lines
The maximum value occurs when
. The minimum value
occurs when . When increases,
increases as a measure of mismatch. Then Standing Wave Ratio
( ) is

When the lossless line is terminated by a load
when means matched line. In that case at , the
reflection coefficient and input impedance

Reflected waves occur. Using the definition of , more useful form known as
Transmission Line Impedance Equation as

Reflection coefficient at the load,
- Transmission Coefficient:Some part of EM wave is also
transmitted to second region as

where and consists of a superposition of an incident
and reflected waves called Standing Waves ( ).

Time Average Power Flow: Insertion Loss:

Short Circuit:

Open Circuit:
This shows is constant at anywhere on the line.

When the line is matched  

is constant.
The proper length of open or short circuited transmission line
When the line is mismatched (   Return can provide any desired reactance or susceptance.
Loss
(No regard to ): The same
impedance is observed at the input.

Matched load (No reflected (Quarter Wave
power, maximum power is delivered). Transform)
Total reflection, (All power - (Short circuit) Open circuit
reflected). - (Open circuit)   Short circuit

is not constant.

2



2.1.2. Lossy Transmission Lines
Power flow along lossy line:
In practice, finite conductivity (or lossy dielectrics) lines can be
evaluated as a Lossy Line. Power loss per unit length:

Attenuation constant:

Wheeler Incremental Inductance Rule:

Low-loss line , . Then
ignoring the last term of

: Incremental inductance

: Loss per unit length
  
: Power at the .

Then, Attenuation constant:

In the lossy line; , & can be approximated to
lossless line.
where is skin depth and .
Distortionless Line: For the lossy line, in fact the exact
Taylor series Inductance Rule:
is not a linear function of frequency means
dispersive. But specifically if the following condition
holds

where .

then , mean that the lossy line 2.2. Smith Chart
behaves as lossless (distortionless) line.

Terminated Lossy Line: Loss is assumed small that where is Resistance, is Reactance, is Conductance and
is Susceptance. Whenever is normalized impedance

The apsis and ordinate of Smith chart are and .

Power lost in the line:
Rearranging them

Perturbation Method for Calculating Attenuation
3



These are two families of circles as and . Superposition of
Smith Chart and its 180o ( ) rotated version is known as
Combined Impedance-Admittance Smith Chart.

where and . Generally is
fixed and three cases are considered as

Load Matched to Line: , , .
Then .

Generator Matched to Line: , .

Conjugate Latching:

is the complete revolution of Smith chart. is the half
of Smith chart (180o). The images of is in Smith chart.

2.3. Slotted Line
This device is used to find as first .
Maximum power transfer . If one directly
- Measurement of on the distance from the line. chose , it does not mean that the best efficiency
- Calculate due to the phase differences. The efficiency can be improved
- only by making as small as possible.

- Using and , write
- Calculate at .

2.4. Generator & Load Mismatches

Then, using this

where and .
4



3. MICROWAVE NETWORKS It can be shown that the real parts of , and are
even in , but the imaginery parts of them are odd in .
At low frequencies for electrically small circuits, lumped active and are the even function in .
and passive circuit elements are enough for analyzing the circuit
leading a type of a Quasi-Static solution (assumption of 3.2. Impedance & Admittance Matrices
negligible phase change in any where of the circuit) of
Maxwell's equations and to Kirchoff Current and Voltage Laws The and of a port microwave network having 'th terminal
with impedance concept. Moreover fields are considered as
TEM type. But this way is not possible to analyze microwave
circuits. The circuit concept should modify and apply to
microwave network theory developed in MIT in 1940. The The impedance matrix is in the form of
reasons of using it are as follow

Much easier than field theory,
Calculations are performed at terminals, not everywhere,
Easy to modify and combine different problems,
The field solution of Maxwell's equation gives more Similarly the admittance matrix is in the form of
information at the every time and place of the network, but
difficult. At microwave frequencies, although the
definition of the terminal pairs for line is relatively
easy, the terminal pair for line does not
strictly exist.
Clear that . It can be shown that
3.1. Voltage, Current and Impedance
The measurements of and at microwave frequencies are
difficult due to not easily defined terminals for non-TEM waves.
Because of that the fields are measured and used as

Then and are known as Input Impedance and Transfer
than, the impedance can be defined as . Because the Impedance, respectively.
fields depend on the coordinates (like in waveguide), special
attenuation should be given for extraction of and . The way is If the network is reciprocal (no ferrites, plasmas and
to do that active devices inside), and are the right
relations.
If the network is lossless, and are purely
imaginary.

3.2.1. Scattering Matrix
The form of the scattering matrix gives the
then, the impedance can be defined as complete description of the port networks with the incident
. The impedance concept first used and reflected waves as
by O. Heaviside, and then after application to transmission lines,
to electromagnetics by Schelkunoff. In this manner, types of it

Intrinsic Impedance, : It depends on only the
material parameters.
Wave Impedance, : TM, TE, TEM Any element of the scattering matrix
types are present which may depend on type of guide,
material and frequency.
Characteristic Impedance, : For TEM, it is
unique, but for TE and TM, not unique because and
can not be determined, uniquely.
5



and are Reflection and Transmission Coefficient (from 3.3. Equivalent Circuits for 2 Port Networks
port to port ), respectively. Network analyzer is used to
measure parameters of a network. If network is reciprocal, Transition between a coaxial line and microstrip line can
is symmetric. If network is lossless, is unitary means that be chosen as an example of two port networks. Because of
. Using the relations as discontinuity in the transition region, EM energy is stored
and with between and matrixes in the vicinity of the transition leading to reactive effects
mean that the transition region should be modeled as black
box (There is an unlimited way of equivalent circuits, but
choosing matrix equivalence), then

In the , all the and are defined as a reference point at the
end of every lines. If the reference point is shifted, then

where is the electrical length of the outward shift.

3.2.1.1. Generalized Scattering Matrix
In the previous chapter, is defined for networks with same
characteristic impedance for all ports. Generally for not same
impedance for all ports, a new set of wave amplitudes as

A nonreciprocal network can not be represented by
,
passive equivalent circuit using reciprocal elements. If the
network is reciprocal (there are six degrees of freedom, six
Then, generalized matrix independent parameters), the presentations lead naturally
to and equivalent circuits as

- In reciprocal networks, is symmetric,
- In lossless networks, is unitary and satisfies the equation

If the network is lossless, the impedance and admittance
3.2.2. Transmission (ABCD) Matrix matrix elements are purely imaginary, the degrees of
freedom reduces to three and the elements of and
Many microwave networks consisting cascade connection and equivalent circuits should be constructed from purely
need building block fashion in practice. ABCD matrix is defined reactive elements.
to satisfy this as
3.4. Signal Flow Graphs
Signal flow graph is an additional technique to analyse
microwave networks in terms of reflected and transmitted
where port 1 and port 2 are completely isolated in the equation waves. Three different forms of it are given below with nodes
means that cascade multiplication is possible. The current and branches.
direction is also specially designed for ABCD matrix. The
relation between and matrix parameters are as

If the network is reciprocal ( ), then .

6



The decomposition rules are also given below

7



4. IMPEDANCE MATCHING
Impedance matching (or tuning) is an important issue for
For multiple reflection, total is
- Maximum power is delivered when load is matched to line
(assuming the generator is matched)
- Power loss is minimized.
- ratio of receiver components is increased.
- Amplitude and phase errors are reduced.
The condition of is also
enough to make total reflection (multiple) is zero.
Whenever has nonzero real part, impedance matching is
possible with the factors such as
If and , then and .
- Complexity: Simpler one is prefable.
- Wide Bandwidth: Match a load over a band.
- Implementation: Easier one is prefable
- Adjustability: Adjust to match a variable load impedance.

4.1. L Networks Matching

For each frequency, has to be equal to . Thus fixed line
length is possible only for one frequency.

Bandwidth performance of QWT for wide band matching: If
one set the maximum value of reflection coefficient,
The normalized should be converted to with adding that can be tolerated, then the fractional bandwidth is
impedance, then adding – the impedance matching will be
successful.

This shows that as becomes closer to , the bandwidth
increases. This result is valid only for TEM lines. The step
changes of reactance effect can be compensated by making a
4.2. Quarter Wave Transformer small adjustment in the length of the matching section.
Approximate behavior of reflection coefficients is shown at
below.

It is used for only real load impedance. Complex load
impedance can always be transformed to real impedance by
appropriate length of transmission line. But this generally alters
the frequency dependency of the equivalent load reducing the
bandwidth of the matching. The following relation has to be The QWT can be extended as a multisection form for matching
satisfied as of broader bandwidth.

4.3. Single Stub Tuning
A single open-circuited (or short-circuited) transmission line is
where
connected either in parallel or series with the feed line at a
certain distance from the load. Single Sub Tuning can match any
load impedance to line, but suffer from disadvantage of
requiring a variable length between the load and stub.

8



ripple) multisection matching transformers can be used. In first
one: the derivatives of is settled to zero, in second
one: is equated to Chebyshev polynomial.

4.5. Tapered Lines
The line can be continuously tapered for decreasing the effect of
the step changes in characteristic impedance between the
discrete sections. The incremental reflection coefficient

Since lumped elements are not required, single stub is
convenient and easy to fabricate in microstrip form. Two
adjustable parameters and susceptance or reactance provided
by stub. Although for microstrip lines open circuit is easy to Since , by using theory of
fabricate since a via-hole is enough, for coax or waveguide short small reflections
circuit is preferred since open circuit line may be large for
radiation. If the impedance has the form of at the
distance . Then stub reactance can be chosen as – , resulting
for matching condition. For a given susceptance or reactance,
the difference in lengths of open and short-circuited stub is .
where from can be found. Chancing type of taper
(Exponential, , Triangular, Klopfenstein), different
4.4. Double Stub Tuning band pass characteristic may be applied. Klopfenstein yields the
The double stub tuner can not match all load impedances, but shortest matching section. The Bode-Fano criterion for certain
load may be arbitrary distance from the first stub. type of canonical load impedances will help us to define
theoretical limit on the minimum reflection with the upper limit
of matching performance and provide a benchmark against
which a practical design can be compared.

Distance between the stubs should be generally chosen as
or to reduce the frequency sensitivity.

Single Section Transformer: The reflection coefficient of
single section transformer can be written when discontinuities
between the impedances are small as

This shows that is dominated by and .

Multisection Transformer: If the applications require more
bandwidth, multisection transformers consists of equal length
sections of the lines can be used. The reflection coefficient can
be written as

The importance of this result is that the desired reflection
coefficients response as a function of frequency can be
synthesized by proper choosing of . To obtain passband
responses, binominal (maximally flat) and Chebysev (equal
9



5. POWER DIVIDERS & COUPLERS between two output ports. The fringing fields and higher order
modes at the discontinuity leading stored energy can be
These are passive components used for power division or power accounted by a lumped susceptance, . The output line
combining. In power division, an input signal is divided by impedances and can be selected to provide various power
coupler in two (or more) signals, equally or not. decision.

Resistive Divider: Possible to match all ports simultaneously,
the resistive (lossy) divider is used, but no isolation between two
output ports due to being not lossless. Half of the supplied
power is dissipated in resistors.
5.1. Three Port Networks (T Junction)
5.2. Four Port Networks (Directional Coupler)
It has two inputs with one output.
It has two inputs and two outputs. After considering using the
If component is passive (no anisotropic material), the network features of matrix for reciprocal, matched and lossless
is reciprocal and when all ports are also matched network, the possible solutions are means
Directional Coupler. Using different phase references,
, considering lossless one
Symmetrical or Anti-symmetrical Directional Coupler may be
defined. The design parameters of directional coupler are

Using the features of for lossless and reciprocal network

The coupling factor shows the fraction of input power to the
To satisfy, above equation at least two parameters have to be output. The directivity is a measure of isolation ability for
zero means that three port network can not be reciprocal, forward and backward waves. The ideal coupler has infinite
lossless and matched all ports. directivity and isolation and also lossless.
The directional property of the all directional coupler is
If the network is nonreciprocal with matching all port and produced through the use of two separate waves or wave
satisfaction of energy conservation, such a device is known as components, which add in phase at the coupled port, and cancel
Circulator relies on anisotropic materials. in phase at the isolated port.

5.2.1. Waveguide Directional Coupler
Bethe Hole Coupler: Couple one waveguide to another
through a single small hole in the
common wall. Types of the
parallel guides and skewed guides
work properly only at the design
if only two ports of the network are matched, a lossless and frequency (narrow bandwidth in
reciprocal network can be physically realizable. terms of its directivity).

If the network is being lossy, network can be reciprocal and Multi Hole Coupler: Series of
matched at all ports (Resistive Divider or Isolator). As an coupling holes are used to increase
example, Ferrite Isolators are two-port device having bandwidth as similar design to
unidirectional transmission characteristics. Because is not
multi section transformer. Making
unitary, the isolator must be lossy. The isolators can be used
between a high-power source and load to prevent possible coupling coefficients proportional
reflections from damaging the source by absorbing reflected to binominal coefficients,
power. maximally flat response can be obtained. Using Chebysev
polynomial, different responses are possible.
5.1.1. T Junction Power Divider
This can be used for power division (or combining).

Lossless Divider: This suffers from the problem of not being
matched at all ports and in addition does not have any isolation
10



5.2.2. Wilkinson Power Divider
Coupled lines of two (or more) transmission lines are closed
together, power can be coupled between the lines. Generally
TEM mode is assumed rigorously valid for striplines, but
approximately valid for microstrips. Coupled Line Theory is
based on types of excitations as even mode (strip currents are
equal in amplitude with same directions) and odd mode (strip
currents are equal in amplitude with opposite directions).
Arbitrary excitation can be treated as a superposition of
appropriate even and odd modes amplitudes. Moreover design
It is a network with the useful property of being lossless when graphs are present for coupled lines.
the output ports are matched, that is, only reflected power is Design Considerations:
dissipated. It is known that a lossy three port network can be
made having all ports are matched with isolation between the - Although a single section coupled line has limited bandwidth
output ports. Wilkinson Power Divider can be made in due to requirement, the bandwidth can be increased using
microstrip or stripline form with arbitrary power division of multiple sections coupled line having close relations to
way Divider or Combiner. The even-odd mode technique is used multisection QWT.
for analysis.
- The assumption of the same velocity of propagation for even
5.2.3. Hybrid Coupler and odd modes in design, generally not satisfied for a coupled
microstrip or non TEM lines. This gives poor directivity. By
It has having types of the following. using more effective dielectric constant (smaller phase velocity)
for even mode, phase differences should be minimized. This
5.2.3.1. Quadrature Hybrid ( Hybrid) also produces problems as the mismatching phase velocities for
multisection case and degrades coupler directivity. Increasing
This is a directional coupler (knows as Branch Line bandwidth can be obtained with low coupling limits.
Hybrid) with a phase difference in outputs (2 3). Even-
odd mode technique can be applied for analysis. matrix has a 5.2.6. Lange Coupler
high degree of symmetry
To increase coupling factor,
means any port can be used Lange Coupler (several
for input as given below lines) with phase
difference between outputs
is used as a 3 dB coupling
ratio in an octave or more
bandwidth can be achieved.
The main disadvantage of it
(a type of quadrature
5.2.4. Hybrid hybrid) is difficult to
fabricate due to very
It is a four port network with a phase shift (2 3) between narrow lines. Folded Lange
two outputs (also may be in phase). It can be used as a combiner coupler is also used for more easily analysis to model equivalent
and has unitary symmetric scattering matrix as circuit.

5.3. Other Couplers
Moreno Crossed Guide Coupler
Schwinger Reversed Phase Coupler
It may be produces as the form of ring hybrid (rate race), Riblet Short Slot Coupler
tapered matching lines and hybrid waveguide junction (Magic Symmetric Tapered Coupled Line Coupler
T, (Rate Race)) in which symmetrically (or antisymmetrical) Coupler with Apertures in Planar Lines
placed tuning ports (or irises) can be used for matching.

5.2.5. Coupled Line Directional Coupler As an example of a device uses a directional coupler is
Reflectometer isolate and sample the incident and reflected
powers from a mismatch load as a heart of a scalar (or vectorial)
network analyzer.

11



6. NOISE & ACTIVE COMPONENTS where is output noise power and is amplifier gain. Excess
Noise Ratio (ENR) is also used to characterize Noise Power of
Noise is usually generated by random motions of charges (or active noise generator consisting of a diode or a tube as
charge carriers in devices and materials). Such motions can be
caused by the mechanism of

Thermal Noise: Thermal vibrations of bound charges.
Shot Noise: Random fluctuations of charge carriers. where & are Noise Power & Equivalent Temperature of
Flicker Noise: noise. generator.
Plasma Noise: Random motions of charges.
Quantum Noise: Quantized nature of charge carriers. Measurement of Noise Power: factor method is applied as

Noise is a random process and can be passed into a system from
external sources or generated within the system itself. Noise
level defining the system performance determines for minimum
signal reliability detected by a receiver.
where should be determined via power measurement. Then

Dynamic Range and Compression Point: The linearity and
deterministic features of all components can be satisfied in a
range called Dynamic Range. The floor level of noise dominates
the output power at very low frequencies. Compression where & are temperature of hot & cold load, respectively.
Point is defined as the input power for which the output is
below that of an ideal amplifier. 6.1. Noise Figure,
Noise Power and Equivalent Noise Temperature: Rayleigh- It is a measure of the degration in ratio between the input
Jeans approximation results Voltage Fluctuations as and output as

where is Boltzmann’s constant, is temperature, is
bandwidth and is resistance. Because of frequency
independency, this is known as White Noise Source can be is defined for a matched input source and for a noise source
treated as Gaussian distributed variables. consist of a resistor temperature .
A noisy resistor can be replaced with a noiseless resistor
and a voltage source of RMS . Then connecting a load resistor Noise Figure of a Noisy Network: Having the parameters of
results in maximum power transfer called Noise Power as with input noise and signal power , the
output noise power and the output noise
signal . Then Noise Figure is

- then : Cooler device, less noise power.
- then : Smaller bandwidth, less noise power.
- then : Use the exact definition of for .
If the network is noiseless , .
If is not strong function of frequency (White Noise), an
Equivalent Noise Temperature is defined as Noise Figure of a Two-Port Passive and Lossy Network:
Having such as attenuator (or lossy line) with a matched
source resistor at , overall system temperature also at , noise
factor

where is Noise Power delivered to load .
A noisy amplifier with a source of resistor at a temperature
of can be replaced with a noiseless amplifier and a
resistor having Equivalent Noise Temperature as

where is lossy factor. The equivalent noise
temperature

12



matched to its input and output circuits. Consider that line
is mismatched to input circuit as

If the line is at the temperature , .

Noise Figure of Cascaded System: A cascaded system of two
components ( ), ( ) and Then

The output of first stage :
The output of second stage:

When the line is matched same as
the matched lossy line.

6.2. Dynamic Range & Intermodulation Distortion
All realistic devices are nonlinear at very low power levels due
to noise effects and also practical components became nonlinear
at high power levels. A given component (or network) can
operate as desired between minimum and maximum realistic
power ranges known as Dynamic Range. In the sense of
where and . The first stage is intermodulation distortion, it is called as Spurious Free
dominant due to reduces to second stage. Generally Dynamic Range. The output response of a nonlinear device
(diode, transistor) by using a Taylor series expansion

where is DC output, is Lineer
output, others are Nonlinear outputs. Different output response
can be obtained relating to coefficients as

Only , Rectifier
Noise Figure of a Passive Two Port Network: Available Power Only , Attenuator or Amplifier
Gain does not depend on . Only , Mixing or Frequency Conversion

Gain Compression:

In most practical system, , then gain tends to decrease
where , then is named Gain Compression or Saturation.
as
Intermodulation Distortion:
2

the output is the combination of two input
frequencies are called Intermodulation Products.
The definitions of and are close as lossy lines. When the
network is matched , then Passive Intermodulation: Connectors, cables, antennas, and
every metal-metal contact can cause passive intermodulation
due to poor mechanical contact, oxidation, contamination etc.,
Noise Figure of a Mismatched Lossy Line: Previously, Noise and also thermal effects of high power source. This has
Figure of a lossy line is calculated under assumptions of line is generally lower power levels.

13



6.3. RF Diode Characteristics
Shottky Barrier Diode Detectors: This is a nonlinear device
consisting of semiconductor-metal junction resulting lower
junction capacitance can be used frequency conversion
(rectification, detection, mixing). It has a

with a Small Signal Model

These diodes are used as rectifiers, detectors and demodulation
of an AM modulated RF carrier.

PIN Diode: This is used to construct an electronic switching
for control circuits such as phase shifters and attenuators. These
are preferable because of small size, high speed and inerrability
with planar circuits. Especially single-pole PIN diode switches
can be used in either a series or a shunt configuration to form a
single pole RF switch. Insertion Loss of switches

where is diode impedance as

Varactor Diode: Junction capacitance varies with bias voltage
used for electronically frequency tuning.

Impatt Diode: Similar to PIN diode, but based on avalanche
effects exhibiting negative resistance over a broad frequency
range, therefore used to directly convert DC to RF power.

Gunn Diode: It exhibits a negative differential resistance
based on Gunn effect and used to generate RF power to DC.

Baritt Diode: Similar to junction transistor without a base
contact and useful for detector and mixer applications with
advantages of lower AM noise.

14



7. MICROWAVE AMPLIFIER DESIGN More generally, most useful power definition is Transducer
Power Gain account for both source and load mismatch
7.1. Two-Port Power Gains
The gain and stability of a general two-port amplifier in terms of
parameters of transistor will be investigated for amplifier and where
oscillator design. Three types of power gain can be derived as
, ,

If transistor is unilateral, ; , , then

, ,

where is independent of . is defined with an assumption Similar relation can be obtained by Equivalent circuit parameter.
that conjugate matching of both source and load depend on
but not . depends on both and . Whenever input and 7.2. Stability
output are both conjugately matched, gain is maximized and
. There are necessary conditions for a transistor amplifier to be
stable based on the possible oscillation for input and output
The average power delivered to network impedance has a negative real part as a two-sub group:

- Conditional Stability: If and , network is
stable for a range of passive source and load impedance.

- Unconditional Stability: If and for all
The power delivered to load
passive sources and loads, network is unconditionally stable.

The stability condition is usually frequency dependent since
matchings generally depend on frequency (stability may be
possible for a frequency but not possible for others). Rigorous
Then, the power gain treatment of stability requires parameters of network have no
poles in the right-half complex plane in addition to
and . If device is unilateral , more simply
results and are enough for stability.

Stability Circles: Applying the above requirement for
unconditional stability, following conditions have to be satisfied

where

These conditions define a range for and where amplifier
will be stable. Finding this range by using Smith chart, plotting
the input and output Stability Circles are defined as loci in the
(or ) plane for which (or ), then define
If , then . boundaries between stable and unstable regions. The equations
for input and output stability conditions can be extracted as
If , then , Unilateral Transducer Power Gain,

15



7.5. Power Amplifiers
This is used to increase power level with consideration of
efficiency, gain, intermodulation and thermal effect. Amplifier
Efficiency is defined as

with the effect of input power, Power Added Efficiency, PAE

If device is unconditionally stable, the stability circles must be
completely outside (or totally enclose) the Smith chart. This can
be stated mathematically as
where is power gain. PAE drops quickly with frequency.
for Another parameter is Compressed Gain defined as the gain of
amplifier at 1 dB compression gain as
for

If or , the amplifier can not be
unconditionally stable because a source (or load impedance) where is small signal (linear) power gain. Class A amplifiers
leading to (or ) can cause (or with theoretically maximum efficiency are inherently
). If transistor is only conditionally stable, and linear that transistor is biased to conduct over entire range of
must be
input signal cycle (low-noise amplifier). Class B amplifiers with
chosen in stable regions. Specially unconditionally stability can
be tested with the methods of Rollet’s Condition or theoretically maximum efficiency are biased to conduct
Parameter. only during one-half of input signal cycle (Push-Pull amplifier).
Class C amplifiers with efficiency near are operated with
transistor near cut-off for more than half of the input signal
7.3. Single Stage Amplifier Design
cycle (in a resonant circuit, constant envelope modulation).
Maximum gain with stability can be realized when input and Higher classes such as D, E, F and S are also used with high
output sections provide a conjugate match between source and efficiency.
load impedance, but generally as a narrowband. To perform this
7.5.1. Large Signal Characterization
If input power is small enough, parameter is independent from
conditions simultaneously have to be satisfied means that also input power and linear small signal model is suitable for
by maximizing the transducer gain, first of all , then should modeling. But for high input powers, transistor behaves as a
be solved by considering stability conditions. It is also nonlinear device (Large-Signal Characterization) and more
preferable to design for less than the maximum obtainable gain, difficult to design. The following methods are possible for Large
to improve bandwidth (or to obtain a specific amplifier gain). To Signal Characterization
do that, Constant Gain Circles on the Smith chart to represent
loci of and that give fixed values of gain are used. Besides - Measure the output power as a function of source and load
stability and gain, the Noise Figure of the amplifier should be impedances and produce tables, then determine large signal
minimized by using Constant Noise Figure Circles. source and load reflection coefficients to maximize power gain
for a particular output power.
7.4. Broadband Amplifier Design
- Plot contours (Load-Pull Contours) of constant power output
The bandwidth can be improved with designing for less than on a Smith chart as a function of load reflection coefficient with
maximum gain will improve bandwidth, but the input and conjugately matching at input and design for a specified gain.
output ports will be poorly matched. Common approaches to
solve this problem are listed below - Use nonlinear equivalent of the transistor circuit.

- Compensated Matching Network, Especially for designing Class A amplifiers, the stability can be
- Resistive Matching Network, checked by using small signal model because instabilities begin
- Negative Feedback, at low signal levels.
- Balanced Amplifiers,
- Distributed Amplifiers.

16


Lecture notes microwaves

More Related Content

What's hot (20)

Similar to Lecture notes microwaves (20)

More from Sarah Krystelle (20)

Recently uploaded (20)

Lecture notes microwaves