2026-04-20 06:40 UTC
We already have concentrated microwave beams. And they do suffer immense energy loss on longer distances.
If you want to transfer energy via microwaves, your efficency will reach single digits real fast on any meaningful distance.
You are right that the inverse square law doesn't realistically apply with concentrated beams. But you still have energy loss. Lots of it.
But don't take my word for it.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-25251-w
Replies (1)
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@Pyrodexter@lemmy.world 2026-04-20 07:08
Quickly glancing through the paper it doesn't really seem to support your claim. They attribute their major losses to the parabolic reflector (meaning they don't have very well concentrated microwave beams?), and say that developing higher efficiency focusing components is important work for the future. I'm kind of guessing that's one thing the Chinese are doing. Still, I'm sure there are relevant losses even in properly focused microwave beams. How much that is, I have no clue, and didn't see it addressed in the paper. Might have missed it - it was a *very* quick glance. :)