RFICDUDE
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Hi s_ss,
The linear results, S and NF, do not account for the nonlinear performance of your design. S and NF analysis assume the circuit is perfectly linear around the bias point the circuit is operating at. In addition to S and NF, you need to run large signal simulations that measure the nonlinear performance of your design.
A LNA design is not complete without measurements of the nonlinear performance. Nonlinear metrics like the third-order intercept point are commonly used to quantify the nonlinear performance of LNA designs.
However, just simulating the performance does not mean very much unless you understand what performance goals your design is supposed to meet. If there is no expectation for the linear performance (no specification or goal) of your design then the nonlinear performance has no meaning, but as a practical matter, any communication system with interfering signals present the nonlinear performance matters.
Does your project have a requirement, or are you just trying to learn what is important for the design you are working on?
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