Gain Compression Concept

Gain compression is the difference, in dB, between a point on an idealized linear (small-signal) power-gain slope and a corresponding point on the actual power curve. That is, for a gain compression of x dB,

• x = 10 log ₁₀ ( G _x /G _ss )
  where G _x is the point on the idealized linear gain slope that is x dB directly below the point G _ss on the small-signal power curve, as illustrated below.
  

The simulator stops its analysis when it reaches that point. The default setting is 1 dB.
The XDB simulator uses a harmonic balance algorithm, and as such shares many of the parameters and options that the Harmonic Balance simulator provides. However, this simulation requires that the input and output of the component or circuit whose gain compression is being simulated be defined by an appropriate source and termination.