Vol. 168
Latest Volume
All Volumes
PIERC 168 [2026] PIERC 167 [2026] PIERC 166 [2026] PIERC 165 [2026] PIERC 164 [2026] PIERC 163 [2026] PIERC 162 [2025] PIERC 161 [2025] PIERC 160 [2025] PIERC 159 [2025] PIERC 158 [2025] PIERC 157 [2025] PIERC 156 [2025] PIERC 155 [2025] PIERC 154 [2025] PIERC 153 [2025] PIERC 152 [2025] PIERC 151 [2025] PIERC 150 [2024] PIERC 149 [2024] PIERC 148 [2024] PIERC 147 [2024] PIERC 146 [2024] PIERC 145 [2024] PIERC 144 [2024] PIERC 143 [2024] PIERC 142 [2024] PIERC 141 [2024] PIERC 140 [2024] PIERC 139 [2024] PIERC 138 [2023] PIERC 137 [2023] PIERC 136 [2023] PIERC 135 [2023] PIERC 134 [2023] PIERC 133 [2023] PIERC 132 [2023] PIERC 131 [2023] PIERC 130 [2023] PIERC 129 [2023] PIERC 128 [2023] PIERC 127 [2022] PIERC 126 [2022] PIERC 125 [2022] PIERC 124 [2022] PIERC 123 [2022] PIERC 122 [2022] PIERC 121 [2022] PIERC 120 [2022] PIERC 119 [2022] PIERC 118 [2022] PIERC 117 [2021] PIERC 116 [2021] PIERC 115 [2021] PIERC 114 [2021] PIERC 113 [2021] PIERC 112 [2021] PIERC 111 [2021] PIERC 110 [2021] PIERC 109 [2021] PIERC 108 [2021] PIERC 107 [2021] PIERC 106 [2020] PIERC 105 [2020] PIERC 104 [2020] PIERC 103 [2020] PIERC 102 [2020] PIERC 101 [2020] PIERC 100 [2020] PIERC 99 [2020] PIERC 98 [2020] PIERC 97 [2019] PIERC 96 [2019] PIERC 95 [2019] PIERC 94 [2019] PIERC 93 [2019] PIERC 92 [2019] PIERC 91 [2019] PIERC 90 [2019] PIERC 89 [2019] PIERC 88 [2018] PIERC 87 [2018] PIERC 86 [2018] PIERC 85 [2018] PIERC 84 [2018] PIERC 83 [2018] PIERC 82 [2018] PIERC 81 [2018] PIERC 80 [2018] PIERC 79 [2017] PIERC 78 [2017] PIERC 77 [2017] PIERC 76 [2017] PIERC 75 [2017] PIERC 74 [2017] PIERC 73 [2017] PIERC 72 [2017] PIERC 71 [2017] PIERC 70 [2016] PIERC 69 [2016] PIERC 68 [2016] PIERC 67 [2016] PIERC 66 [2016] PIERC 65 [2016] PIERC 64 [2016] PIERC 63 [2016] PIERC 62 [2016] PIERC 61 [2016] PIERC 60 [2015] PIERC 59 [2015] PIERC 58 [2015] PIERC 57 [2015] PIERC 56 [2015] PIERC 55 [2014] PIERC 54 [2014] PIERC 53 [2014] PIERC 52 [2014] PIERC 51 [2014] PIERC 50 [2014] PIERC 49 [2014] PIERC 48 [2014] PIERC 47 [2014] PIERC 46 [2014] PIERC 45 [2013] PIERC 44 [2013] PIERC 43 [2013] PIERC 42 [2013] PIERC 41 [2013] PIERC 40 [2013] PIERC 39 [2013] PIERC 38 [2013] PIERC 37 [2013] PIERC 36 [2013] PIERC 35 [2013] PIERC 34 [2013] PIERC 33 [2012] PIERC 32 [2012] PIERC 31 [2012] PIERC 30 [2012] PIERC 29 [2012] PIERC 28 [2012] PIERC 27 [2012] PIERC 26 [2012] PIERC 25 [2012] PIERC 24 [2011] PIERC 23 [2011] PIERC 22 [2011] PIERC 21 [2011] PIERC 20 [2011] PIERC 19 [2011] PIERC 18 [2011] PIERC 17 [2010] PIERC 16 [2010] PIERC 15 [2010] PIERC 14 [2010] PIERC 13 [2010] PIERC 12 [2010] PIERC 11 [2009] PIERC 10 [2009] PIERC 9 [2009] PIERC 8 [2009] PIERC 7 [2009] PIERC 6 [2009] PIERC 5 [2008] PIERC 4 [2008] PIERC 3 [2008] PIERC 2 [2008] PIERC 1 [2008]
2026-04-18
Two-Tone IMD3 and IMD5 Models of Weakly Nonlinear GaN Amplifier for Tx-Rx Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Systems
By
Progress In Electromagnetics Research C, Vol. 168, 278-287, 2026
Abstract
With the increase in users' demand, the wireless communication systems are expected to operate by considering microwave and millimeter wave signals under higher power intensity by means of multichannel propagation. Therefore, the nonlinear (NL) effect becomes a major challenge to maintain the communication system performance. To deal with such an undesirable effect, the microwave amplifier (MA) NL characterization requires a relevant modelling technique. The intermodulation distortion (IMD) constitutes one of the basic approaches for MA NL analyses. The IMD of the MA two-tone (TT) response in weakly NL behavior is modelled and measured in this paper. The modelling method is empirically derived from the Volterra series coefficients of the MA input-output characteristic from a single-tone (ST) test. The mth-order IM amplitudes of MA NL TT response are formulated as a function of the ST odd harmonics. The efficiency of the IM(m) models is experimentally validated with TT measurements of Gallium Nitride MAs around 2.4 GHz and 24 GHz carrier frequencies. The behavior of the IMD3 and IMD5 of weakly NL (WNL) models around 2.4 GHz is in good agreement with the TT input amplitude measured from -25 to -5 dBm. The IMD3 WNL model around 24 GHz is also well-correlated to measurement with input amplitude range from -20 to -3 dBm. In the future, the developed NL model can be exploited for assessing the MA impact on the microwave system communication performance.
Citation
Jiahao Li, Fayu Wan, Junkun Wan, Nathan B. Gurgel, Sébastien Lallechere, Nicolas Waldhoff, Dmitry Kholodnyak, Glauco Fontgalland, and Blaise Ravelo, "Two-Tone IMD3 and IMD5 Models of Weakly Nonlinear GaN Amplifier for Tx-Rx Microwave and Millimeter-Wave Systems," Progress In Electromagnetics Research C, Vol. 168, 278-287, 2026.
doi:10.2528/PIERC25122501
References

1. Saad, Walid, Mehdi Bennis, and Mingzhe Chen, "A vision of 6G wireless systems: Applications, trends, technologies, and open research problems," IEEE Network, Vol. 34, No. 3, 134-142, May/Jun. 2020.
doi:10.1109/mnet.001.1900287        Google Scholar

2. Bayram, Yakup, John L. Volakis, Suk Keun Myoung, Seok Joo Doo, and Patrick Roblin, "High-power EMI on RF amplifier and digital modulation schemes," IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Vol. 50, No. 4, 849-860, Nov. 2008.
doi:10.1109/temc.2008.2004600        Google Scholar

3. Fiori, F. L. and P. S. Crovetti, "Prediction of high-power EMI effects in CMOS operational amplifiers," IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Vol. 48, No. 1, 153-160, Feb. 2006.
doi:10.1109/temc.2006.870690        Google Scholar

4. Abuelma'atti, M. T., "Analysis of the effect of radio frequency interference on the DC performance of bipolar operational amplifiers," IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Vol. 45, No. 2, 453-458, May 2003.
doi:10.1109/TEMC.2003.811312        Google Scholar

5. Mordachev, V. I., "Automated double-frequency testing technique for mapping receive interference responses," IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Vol. 42, No. 2, 213-225, May 2000.
doi:10.1109/15.852415        Google Scholar

6. Panigrahi, Smruti Ranjan and Daniel Rönnow, "Evaluating nonlinear distortion of single and dual channel excitation of an amplifier at 24 GHz," Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, Vol. 63, No. 9, 2315-2319, 2021.
doi:10.1002/mop.32889        Google Scholar

7. Cheng, Xin, Fayu Wan, Vladimir Mordachev, Eugene Sinkevich, Xiaohe Chen, and Blaise Ravelo, "Nonlinear microwave device LabVIEW automatic test bench: Double-frequency IMD3 characterization," Progress In Electromagnetics Research B, Vol. 108, 47-59, 2024.
doi:10.2528/pierb24053005        Google Scholar

8. Du, Hongyu, Fayu Wan, Vladimir Mordachev, Eugene Sinkevich, Xiaohe Chen, and Blaise Ravelo, "EMI characterization from GaN power amplifier nonlinearity test for 16-QAM 5G communication," Radioengineering, Vol. 33, No. 4, 669-680, 2024.
doi:10.13164/re.2024.0669        Google Scholar

9. Fu, Kai, Choi Look Law, and Than Tun Thein, "Test bed for power amplifier behavioral characterization and modeling," Measurement, Vol. 46, No. 8, 2735-2745, 2013.
doi:10.1016/j.measurement.2013.04.013        Google Scholar

10. Palumbo, G. and S. Pennisi, "High-frequency harmonic distortion in feedback amplifiers: Analysis and applications," IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Fundamental Theory and Applications, Vol. 50, No. 3, 328-340, Mar. 2003.
doi:10.1109/tcsi.2003.808835        Google Scholar

11. Miao, Yingwu and Yuxing Zhang, "Distortion modeling of feedback two-stage amplifier compensated with Miller capacitor and nulling resistor," IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers, Vol. 59, No. 1, 93-105, 2012.
doi:10.1109/tcsi.2011.2161393        Google Scholar

12. Minasian, R. A., "Intermodulation distortion analysis of MESFET amplifiers using the Volterra series representation," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 28, No. 1, 1-8, Jan. 1980.
doi:10.1109/tmtt.1980.1129998        Google Scholar

13. Lima, Eduardo G., Telmo R. Cunha, Hugo M. Teixeira, Marco Pirola, and Jose C. Pedro, "Base-band derived volterra series for power amplifier modeling," 2009 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest, 1361-1364, Boston, MA, USA, 2009.
doi:10.1109/MWSYM.2009.5165958

14. Celik, Abdullah, Zhaonian Zhang, and Paul P. Sotiriadis, "A state-space approach to intermodulation distortion estimation in fully balanced bandpass Gm-C filters with weak nonlinearities," IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers, Vol. 54, No. 4, 829-844, Apr. 2007.
doi:10.1109/TCSI.2006.887630        Google Scholar

15. Shi, Guoyong, "Symbolic distortion analysis of multistage amplifiers," IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers, Vol. 66, No. 1, 369-382, 2019.
doi:10.1109/tcsi.2018.2859242        Google Scholar

16. Maffezzoni, Paolo, "Efficient multiparameter sensitivity computation of amplifier harmonic distortion," IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II: Express Briefs, Vol. 54, No. 3, 257-261, 2007.
doi:10.1109/tcsii.2006.888725        Google Scholar

17. Fiori, F., "A new nonlinear model of EMI-induced distortion phenomena in feedback CMOS operational amplifiers," IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility, Vol. 44, No. 4, 495-502, Nov. 2002.
doi:10.1109/temc.2002.804766        Google Scholar

18. Bosch, W. and G. Gatti, "Measurement and simulation of memory effects in predistortion linearizers," IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques, Vol. 37, No. 12, 1885-1890, Dec. 1989.
doi:10.1109/22.44098        Google Scholar

19. Yang, Guichen, Hongmin Li, Wen Qiao, Chengye Jiang, Qiao Liu, Guangjian Wang, and Falin Liu, "Digital predistortion based on sample selection with memory effect," International Journal of RF and Microwave Computer-Aided Engineering, Vol. 32, No. 2, e22976, 2022.
doi:10.1002/mmce.22976        Google Scholar