DEVELOPMENT OF KU-BAND DUAL-CHANNEL PARAMETRIC AMPLIFIER

摘要

This report describes the modification of an existing Ka-band no degenerate parametric amplifier and construction of a dual-channel system, complete with power supply. The final product displayed 40 mc bandwidth and 20 db gain at 16.5 Gc +50 mc. The two channels had noise figures less than 2.7 db and 3.2 db respectively. An evaluation of several types of varactors led to the selection of a Schottky barrier varactor as the active element. Extending the Schottky barrier technique to parametric, amplifier varactors has yielded a new means of obtaining very low noise microwave amplification and high pump efficiency. A breadboard amplifier was operated with a noise figure of 2.2 db (less circulator) and required 10 mw of pump power at 40Gc. It had a bandwidth of 65 mc at 20 db. gain and was electronically tunable over 900 mc.