Space Power Beaming (2D): Diffraction-Limited Rectenna Efficiency

A space-based solar power satellite only earns its keep if the microwave beam it radiates actually lands on the ground receiver. This 2D diagram models the free-space physics of that link: a side-view beam-geometry panel, a plotted Airy diffraction intensity profile, and an efficiency-vs-coupling curve all update together as you adjust the transmit dish size, rectenna size, microwave frequency and orbital distance — driven by the same Goubau coupling parameter τ, capture efficiency η ≈ 1 − exp(−τ), and diffraction-limited ground-spot diameter used in real power-beaming engineering studies.