parabolic antenna
Quick Summary
A parabolic antenna, also known as a parabolic reflector, is a type of antenna that uses a parabolic shape to focus radio waves. This shape allows it to concentrate incoming signals onto a small receiver, known as a feed, or to transmit signals in a highly directional beam. This focusing capability makes parabolic antennas highly efficient for both receiving weak signals from distant sources, such as in radio telescopes, and for transmitting signals over long distances, like in satellite dishes. The parabolic shape is derived from the geometric property that all rays emanating from its focal point are reflected parallel to its axis of symmetry, and conversely, all parallel rays striking its surface are reflected to the focal point.123
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
