Guidelines for Space Qualification of GaN HEMTs and MMICs
J. Scarpulla
Abstract
GaN HEMTs and MMICs are candidates for use in space system because of their many advantages especially as Rf/microwave amplifiers. To date however, although efforts are underway, no GaN has successfully been qualified for a Class A or B space mission (high reliability, long duration). No GaN devices have yet achieved the “standard military part” status as defined by the network of US military performance requirements for semiconductor devices. One problem is that the GaN technology is not well represented in the existing requirements making a meaningful qualification difficult. The purpose of this paper is to recommend GaN-specific test protocols and guidelines to attempt to amend this situation. Tests for both intrinsic and extrinsic reliability determination are proposed. A document expanding upon the details of the material in this paper is now available, and a working group continues to refine it.