A coaxial to waveguide transition includes a first rigid portion comprising an inverted hollow cone, a second rigid portion comprising a hollow tube, and a third rigid portion comprising a hollow cone. The first rigid portion has a first end and a second end, and tapers inward at a first angle from its first end towards its second end. The second rigid portion has a first end and a second end, with the first end being partially disposed within the second end of the first rigid portion. The third rigid portion has a first end and a second end, with the first end of the third rigid portion being partially disposed within the second end of the second rigid portion. The third rigid portion tapers outward at a second angle from its first end towards its second end, where the second angle is less than the first angle.

An amplifier including a pre-amplifier, an impedance converter, and a traveling wave amplifier (TWA) is disclosed. The pre-amplifier receives a differential input signal and has a pair of first output nodes that output a first differential signal by amplifying the differential input signal. Each first output node has first output impedance. The impedance converter includes a pair of first input nodes that receive the first differential signal and a pair of second output nodes that output a second differential signal. Each first input node has first input impedance greater than the first output impedance. The impedance converter converts the first differential signal into the second differential signal. Each second output node has second output impedance smaller than the first output impedance. The TWA includes a pair of transmission lines connected to the pair of the second output nodes. Each transmission line has characteristic impedance matching with the second output impedance.

An amplifier including a pre-amplifier, an impedance converter, and a traveling wave amplifier (TWA) is disclosed. The pre-amplifier receives a differential input signal and has a pair of first output nodes that output a first differential signal by amplifying the differential input signal. Each first output node has first output impedance. The impedance converter includes a pair of first input nodes that receive the first differential signal and a pair of second output nodes that output a second differential signal. Each first input node has first input impedance greater than the first output impedance. The impedance converter converts the first differential signal into the second differential signal. Each second output node has second output impedance smaller than the first output impedance. The TWA includes a pair of transmission lines connected to the pair of the second output nodes. Each transmission line has characteristic impedance matching with the second output impedance.

A system is provided for combining multiple solid-state amplifiers using a radial combiner/divider. The system includes a coaxial input port, a coaxial output port, a first plurality of N waveguides radially disposed around a first transition, a second plurality of N waveguides radially disposed around a second transition, and a plurality of N amplifiers. A first end of each of the first plurality of waveguides is operatively connected to the coaxial input port via the first transition. A first end of each of the second plurality of waveguides is operatively connected to the coaxial output port via the second transition. A first port of each of the plurality of amplifiers is connected to a second end of one of the first plurality of waveguides and a second port of each of the plurality of amplifiers is connected to a second end of one of the second plurality of waveguides.

A system is provided for combining multiple solid-state amplifiers using a radial combiner/divider. The system includes a coaxial input port, a coaxial output port, a first plurality of N waveguides radially disposed around a first transition, a second plurality of N waveguides radially disposed around a second transition, and a plurality of N amplifiers. A first end of each of the first plurality of waveguides is operatively connected to the coaxial input port via the first transition. A first end of each of the second plurality of waveguides is operatively connected to the coaxial output port via the second transition. A first port of each of the plurality of amplifiers is connected to a second end of one of the first plurality of waveguides and a second port of each of the plurality of amplifiers is connected to a second end of one of the second plurality of waveguides.

A coaxial to waveguide transition includes a first rigid portion comprising an inverted hollow cone, a second rigid portion comprising a hollow tube, and a third rigid portion comprising a hollow cone. The first rigid portion has a first end and a second end, and tapers inward at a first angle from its first end towards its second end. The second rigid portion has a first end and a second end, with the first end being partially disposed within the second end of the first rigid portion. The third rigid portion has a first end and a second end, with the first end of the third rigid portion being partially disposed within the second end of the second rigid portion. The third rigid portion tapers outward at a second angle from its first end towards its second end, where the second angle is less than the first angle.

A power combining arrangement includes an input divider waveguide and an output combiner waveguide, and a first and second amplifier. The power combining arrangement is configured to amplify RF energy having a characteristic wavelength . The first amplifier has a first input electrically coupled with a first output port of the divider waveguide. The second amplifier has a second input electrically coupled with a second output port of the divider waveguide. The first and second output ports are separated by a first distance corresponding to a phase delay .sub.1, the first distance being selected substantially independently of the characteristic wavelength. The first amplifier has a first output electrically coupled with a first input port of the combiner waveguide and the second amplifier has a second output electrically coupled with a second input port of the combiner waveguide. The first and second input ports are separated by the first distance.

A power combining arrangement includes an input divider waveguide and an output combiner waveguide, and a first and second amplifier. The power combining arrangement is configured to amplify RF energy having a characteristic wavelength . The first amplifier has a first input electrically coupled with a first output port of the divider waveguide. The second amplifier has a second input electrically coupled with a second output port of the divider waveguide. The first and second output ports are separated by a first distance corresponding to a phase delay .sub.1, the first distance being selected substantially independently of the characteristic wavelength. The first amplifier has a first output electrically coupled with a first input port of the combiner waveguide and the second amplifier has a second output electrically coupled with a second input port of the combiner waveguide. The first and second input ports are separated by the first distance.

An amplifier including a pre-amplifier, an impedance converter, and a traveling wave amplifier (TWA) is disclosed. The pre-amplifier receives a differential input signal and has a pair of first output nodes that output a first differential signal by amplifying the differential input signal. Each first output node has first output impedance. The impedance converter includes a pair of first input nodes that receive the first differential signal and a pair of second output nodes that output a second differential signal. Each first input node has first input impedance greater than the first output impedance. The impedance converter converts the first differential signal into the second differential signal. Each second output node has second output impedance smaller than the first output impedance. The TWA includes a pair of transmission lines connected to the pair of the second output nodes. Each transmission line has characteristic impedance matching with the second output impedance.

An amplifier including a pre-amplifier, an impedance converter, and a traveling wave amplifier (TWA) is disclosed. The pre-amplifier receives a differential input signal and has a pair of first output nodes that output a first differential signal by amplifying the differential input signal. Each first output node has first output impedance. The impedance converter includes a pair of first input nodes that receive the first differential signal and a pair of second output nodes that output a second differential signal. Each first input node has first input impedance greater than the first output impedance. The impedance converter converts the first differential signal into the second differential signal. Each second output node has second output impedance smaller than the first output impedance. The TWA includes a pair of transmission lines connected to the pair of the second output nodes. Each transmission line has characteristic impedance matching with the second output impedance.