Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- un:beam [2024/07/07 01:24] – [2. Effective area] asad
+++ un:beam [2024/07/14 20:47] (current) – [2. Effective area] asad
@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 which can be derived from the formula of power for a [[dipole antenna]]. Here $G_0=3/2 = 1.5 = 1.76$ dB is the peak gain because this would be the gain at $\theta=90^\circ$.
-===== - Effective area =====
+===== - Collecting area =====
-For a receiving antenna, we use **effective area** instead of power gain for defining the beam. It is defined by the fact that flux is nothing but power per unit area. So the collecting area of a radio telescope
+For a receiving antenna, we use **effective area** instead of power gain for defining the beam. It is defined by the fact that flux is nothing but power per unit area. So the collecting area of a radio telescope (also called //effective area//)
 $$ A_e = \frac{2P}{S} $$
@@ Line 43: / Line 42: @@
 $$ B_\nu = \frac{2kT}{\lambda^2} \frac{h\nu/kT}{e^{h\nu/kT} - 1} $$
+which leads to
+$$ \langle A_e \rangle = \frac{\lambda^2}{4\pi} $$
+which means all isotropic lossless antennas have the same **collecting area** irrespective of their shape. This is the reason why GPS antennas, FM radio and dipole radio telescopes all work at long wavelengths, to increase the collecting area which is proportional to $\lambda^2$.
+And the **beam solid angle** of a lossless isotropic antenna
+$$ \Omega_A = \int_{4\pi} \frac{A_e}{A_0} d\Omega \Rightarrow A_0 \Omega_A = \lambda^2 $$
+where $A_0$ is the maximum or peak collecting area.