How Much Power Must We Extract From a Receiver Antenna to Effect Communications?

TL;DR

This paper argues that in wireless communication systems, it is unnecessary to extract power from a receiver antenna to achieve communication, as measuring voltage directly at the antenna can suffice without power draw.

Contribution

It introduces the concept that communication can be achieved without power extraction from the antenna, challenging traditional assumptions based on noise figure and Shannon theory.

Findings

High input-impedance preamplifiers can measure open-circuit voltage without power extraction.

No power is needed from the antenna to effect communication in ideal classical physics conditions.

Traditional concepts like noise figure and Shannon information do not mandate power extraction from antennas.

Abstract

Subject to the laws of classical physics - the science that governs the design of today's wireless communication systems - there is no need to extract power from a receiver antenna in order to effect communications. If we dispense with a transmission line and, instead, make the front-end electronics colocated with the antenna, then a high input-impedance preamplifier can measure the open-circuit voltage directly on the antenna port without drawing either current or power. Neither Friis' concept of noise figure, nor Shannon information theory, nor electronics technology dictates that we must extract power from an antenna.