<p>Virtually all satellite repeaters use a traveling-wave tube (TWT) as their main power amplifier. Because on-board power is a limited commodity, it is highly desirable that the TWT be operated as efficiently as possible, namely in or near saturation where it is highly nonlinear. These nonlinear effects manifest themselves as an amplitude compression (AM/AM conversion) effect and an amplitude dependent phase modulation (AM/PM conversion) effect. In this thesis a number of investigations have been made in relation to the TWT nonlinearities and their effect on the performance of communication systems.</p> <p>A novel quadrature model of the TWT has been developed. This model is most useful in that it is analytic and requires the choice of only four parameters to obtain an excellent fit to the TWT characteristics.</p> <p>An optimal bandpass nonlinear transfer characteristic that maximizes its output signal to interference power ratio has also been derived. By making use of this optimal transfer characteristic and the quadrature model of the tube, a computer-aided design procedure has been described for obtaining a predistortion compensation network for the TWT. This network consists of a simple arrangement of attenuators and power-law devices and has been shown, by computer simulation, to yield about 1 dB improvement in system performance for the case when only a single carrier is present in the TWT.</p> <p>In the case when a single sample detection and majority logic decision circuit is assumed at the receiver, it has been possible to derive analytical expression for the probability of error of M-ary CPSK signals transmitted through a piecewise-linear envelope limiting repeater. An infinite series expression for the bit error rate of binary CPSK transmission through an actual TWT channel has also been derived.</p> <p>A performance analysis of a correlation receiver with a linear integrate and dump circuit has been carried out for the case of binary CPSK transmission through a bandpass nonlinearity exhibiting AM/PM conversion.</p> <p>For the case of purely amplitude-limiting channels, an optimal (maximum-likelihood) receiver structure and its approximate performance has also been investigated.</p> / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

L'objectif de cette thèse est de démontrer la faisabilité d'oscillateurs contrôlés en tension (O.C.T.) rivalisant en termes de bruit de phase avec les O.C.T. fabriqués en technologies III V. Cet O.C.T. doit être complètement intégré, adresser la bande Ku et utiliser la technologie QUBiC4X de NXP Semiconductors. Les travaux de cette thèse sont articulés autour de trois chapitres principaux, le premier revient sur les bases fondamentales à la compréhension des phénomènes inhérents aux composants électroniques et présents dans les oscillateurs plus particulièrement. Le second explique, en s'appuyant sur l'analyse des formes d'ondes et sur des calculs analytiques, les choix retenus en termes d'architecture pour la partie active ainsi que pour le résonateur afin de minimiser la conversion du bruit AM/PM et atteindre les meilleures performances possibles en bruit de phase. Il décrit les quatre versions d'O.C.T. réalisés et analyse les résultats de simulations post-layout obtenus pour justifier leur fabrication. Il présente notamment une architecture innovante utilisant les avantages d'un montage cascode ainsi qu'un résonateur à trois inductances différentielles imbriquées les unes dans les autres. Le troisième chapitre détaille les choix de design faits lors du dessin des masques ainsi que les résultats de mesures obtenus pour les quatre versions fabriquées. Enfin, il se termine par une énumération des recherches menées dans le but d'expliquer les différences observées entre les résultats de mesure et de simulation. / The thesis goal is to demonstrate the feasibility of voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) challenging the VCOs using III-V technologies regarding phase noise performances. This VCO must be fully integrated, target the Ku-band and use the QUBiC4X process from NXP Semiconductors. This thesis work is based on three main chapters, the first one reviews the fundamentals to understand the intrinsic phenomena in electronics components and more particularly in oscillators. The second explains, by using the waveforms analysis and analytical demonstrations, the choices made regarding both the active part and the resonator architecture in order to minimize the AM/PM noise conversion and then to reach the best phase noise performances. It describes the four versions of the realized VCOs and analyzes the post-layout simulations results to justify their fabrications. It shows more specifically an innovative architecture using the advantages of a cascode configuration and a resonator based on three interlocked differential inductors. Finally, the third chapter focuses on the masks' layout and measurements results of the four VCOs. It also details the investigations made to explain the differences between measurements and simulations.