 Gain and effective collecting area

Antenna gain in direction $(\theta ,\varphi )$ compares the far-field power per solid angle with an isotropic radiator using the same accepted input power:It includes radiation efficiency; for the lossless dipole $P_{\mathrm{in}}=P_{\mathrm{rad}}$. The antenna effective area is defined for incidence from a specified direction with matched polarization and conjugate impedance matching:Its units are square metres and it need not equal the physical metal area.

For ordinary reciprocal antennas, electromagnetic reciprocity makes the coupling between two matched ports the same when transmitter and receiver are exchanged. Free-space transfer in one direction is proportional to $G_1{A}_2$, while the reverse transfer is proportional to $G_2{A}_1$. Thus $A/G$ must be a universal factor at that wavelength, independent of antenna or direction. The supplied relation fixes it asEquivalently, thermal detailed balance prevents an angular receiving pattern from collecting more radiation than its reciprocal emitting pattern would return in equilibrium. Reciprocity and the specified matching are the assumptions behind this statement; it is not a general theorem for active nonreciprocal devices.