A radio-frequency power amplifier (also known as an RF power amplifier) is a type of electrical amplifier that increases the power of a radio-frequency signal. RF power amplifiers often operate as the transmitter's antenna driver. Gain, power output, bandwidth, power efficiency, linearity (minimal signal compression at rated output), input and output impedance matching, and heat dissipation are frequently included as design objectives.
Amplifier Classes
To assist in realising various design objectives, many contemporary RF amplifiers operate in many modes, or "classes." Class A, Class AB, Class B, and Class C are a few classes that are categorised as linear amplifier classes. The active device serves as a regulated current source in these classes. The class of the amplifier is determined by the bias at the input. The trade-off between efficiency and linearity is a frequent trade-off in power amplifier design. In the order they are listed, the previously mentioned classes become less linear and more efficient. Theoretically, using the active device as a switch increases efficiency up to 100% but decreases linearity.
Applications
The driving of another high-power source, operating a transmitting antenna, and igniting microwave cavity resonators are some of the fundamental uses of the RF power amplifier. The most well-known of these applications is powering transmitter antennas. The transmitter-receivers are utilised for weather sensing in addition to speech and data transmission (in the form of radar).
