Gain Saturation in Circulator-Coupled Reflection Amplifiers

Abstract

In this paper we present an analytic treatment of large-signal gain saturation in reflection amplifiers and present design curves for optimizing large signal performance. General recommendations for the design of reflection amplifiers, notably of IMPATT amplifiers, are presented. The design curves are verified by comparing analytic results with large signal nonlinear numerical analyses of gain saturation in parametric amplifiers.