The discussion revolves around the theoretical possibility of directing electromagnetic waves for energy transfer in a point-to-point manner, akin to electrical transmission, rather than allowing them to propagate omni-directionally. Participants explore concepts related to wireless energy transfer, diffraction, and the use of optical and RF technologies.
Participants express differing views on the feasibility of lossless point-to-point energy transfer using electromagnetic waves. While some suggest methods to focus energy, others assert that losses are unavoidable, leading to an unresolved debate on the topic.
Limitations include the dependence on definitions of lossless transmission, the assumptions regarding distances involved, and the unresolved nature of the proposed methods for achieving point-to-point energy transfer.
Stanley514 said:walk around any obstacles without looses
No. Need wireless.stedwards said:Use fibre optics. It walks around all kinds of stuff.
Stanley514 said:I think it might be helpful for looseles wireless energy transfere.
If we make the source of radiation, say a lens or concave mirror, large in size, the beam will be narrow, but will still diverge due to diffraction. At close distances, however, the beam is approximately parallel, and so the propagation between two mirrors can be nearly loss free. The distance for which the beam remains parallel is the Rayleigh Distance, and is approximately = Diameter^2 / (2 lambda). This distance also corresponds with the furthest point at which a lens or mirror may be focused.Stanley514 said:Is there a theoretical way to force electromagnetic waves transfere energy point to point like electricity instead omni-dirrectionally? I think it might be helpful for looseles wireless energy transfere.
As a matter of interest, if the distance between the lenses or mirrors is not too great, it is possible to have a parallel beam and to convey nearly all the energy. In the London Science Museum, they have an optical waveguide consisting of a long pipe with a sequence of lenses, so you can see small objects several metres away. The lenses or concave mirrors must be closer than the Rayleigh Distance, which is approximately,davenn said:nothing is lossless, so no, you cannot do it
various RF antennas can be used to beam a large portion of the energy in a particular direction, but there is still lots of spreading out of the energy
and the longer the distance between the transmitter and receiver, the more the signal spreads out
so again, no, cannot be done in a lossless way
Dave
The OP didn't want to use lightKhashishi said:Vanadium answered this fine with their second post. Just point a flashlight at a photovoltaic cell. Or use a laser if you want something better collimated.