-parameter analysis analyzes the stability, input, and output

reflection coefficients, power gains, and other parameters in a

circuit.

Why Should You Use S-Parameter Analysis in High-

Frequency Applications?
S-parameter analysis is particularly useful in RF, microwave, and optical
frequency regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. At these frequency
ranges, the circuit can be represented in terms of admittance and
impedance parameters. However, S-parameter representation and analysis
are more appropriate at RF and microwave frequencies for the following
reasons:

1. It is impossible to define appropriate voltages and currents for an

RF or microwave network in a unique manner.
2. It is difficult to measure the voltages and currents in some circuits,
and this leads to the practical limitation of representing the circuit
network in impedance and admittance parameters.

K-factor that is greater than one tells you that your amplifier is
unconditionally stable. If K is less than 1, you may have a problem. Below
is the equation for K-factor (in two parts):

The maximum available gain (sometimes called MAG, sometimes called

GMAX) of a device is only defined where K is greater than one.
Algebraically, this is because the term under the square-root becomes
negative for values of K less than 1. Another way to look at it is that
maximum available gain is infinite. Infinite gain means oscillator.
Note that GMAX is only defined for two-port networks.

Available gain is undefined when K is less than one. That's when the
square root of (K^2-1) becomes imaginary.

The maximum stable gain (MSG) of a device is defined when maximum

available gain is undefined (K<1). It is merely the ratio of
mag(S21)/mag(S12).