Digital Predistortion Linearization of Onboard RF Transmitters

Power Amplifiers (PAs) are critical in communication systems to strengthen signals and overcome channel losses, but they consume high power and cause non-linear distortion. Digital PreDistortion (DPD) is widely employed to balance efficiency and linearity. In satellite communications, models like Saleh, Rapp, and Ghorbani are commonly used for Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers (TWTAs). Solid-State Power Amplifiers (SSPAs), however, exhibit memory effects when handling wideband signals. To address this, DPD techniques from terrestrial systems are adapted for satellites. Polynomial-based methods, solvable via least squares, are often applied. With phased array architectures, challenges intensify. This talk will explore advanced DPD solutions for SATCOMs.