L-Band Solid State Power Amplifier for space applications

This thesis was carried out in the electrical engineering department at the Communications Division of the company SENER Aeroespacial. Due to the increasing demand of GaN Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPA) for space applications, an internal R+D project was promoted by the company to overcome the key challanges to implement GaN technology in space-qualified power amplifiers by combining the SENER Aeroespacial multi-disciplinary expertise including, RF design, mechanical-thermal design, manufacturing and quality. Among all the cited disciplines, this thesis is focused particularly on the part corresponding to the SSPA RF design and characterization. Complete product design and development is proposed from a GaN power MMIC transistor in die format to the manufacturing of the representative prototypes. Test validation of the prototypes is performed in the Clean Room using RF instruments, then, based on the initial results, correlation of the measurement and simulation is performed to correct and validate the simulation models considered initially.