Broadband linear high-power amplifier based on the parallel amplification architecture for electromagnetic ultrasonic guided wave

Abstract

The linear power amplifier with high-output power in the broadband frequency is the critical component required by exciting the electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) to generate ultrasonic guided wave (UGW). The methods to realize the output of a high-power signal in the linear amplification mode and to expand the bandwidth at high-output power are seldom reported. To solve these problems, a power amplifier with differential structure is developed by using the parallel amplification architecture and the broadband feedback circuits. The proposed power amplifier uses a differential structure to suppress the even harmonic waves and remove the disruptions. Each branch of the differential structure consists of five linear power amplifier modules with output terminals connected in parallel to increase the output power. Also, the negative voltage feedback is used to extend the bandwidth of the power amplifier. The experimental results show that the −3 dB bandwidth of the amplifier is from 40 kHz to 2.5 MHz, and the transient output power is greater than 1 kW. The power amplifier can drive the EMATs to generate ultrasonic guided waves. Because of the high-output power and good linearity, the proposed power amplifier has excellent potential for EMAT UGW applications.