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beam divergence loss
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beam divergence loss

communications
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Quick Summary

Beam divergence loss is a phenomenon in telecommunications where the signal weakens as it travels through space. This occurs because the electromagnetic wave naturally spreads out, causing the power to be distributed over an ever-increasing area. Consequently, only a fraction of the transmitted energy reaches the receiving antenna, degrading the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).1

In free-space optical communication, beam divergence is a significant loss mechanism, similar to microwave radio channels. This can be minimized by using a laser to collimate the light into a narrow, parallel beam. The effectiveness of a signal is also related to its beamwidth, which is the angular diameter of the region where signal reception is optimal.23

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3 Britannica Sources
  1. beamwidth
  2. telecommunications media - The free-space channel
  3. telecommunications media - Reflected propagation

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