Braun's receiver coupling experiment 2026-10-18
In his 1909 lecture, Karl Ferdinand Braun recalled two experimental stations on Strasbourg forts in summer 1902. Known capacitances and calculated inductances set the transmitter tuning; the receiver searched for its two coupled oscillations. Its receiving coil fed a second coil in a tuned indicator circuit. Separating these coils increased both the sharpness of resonance and excitation intensity, until further separation reduced the response. The varied coil spacing was the control; transmitter coupling need not be loose for this receiver effect. For intensity measurements, Braun described an air-thermometer readout in the related resonant measuring apparatus.[ref]
Electrical Oscillations and Wireless Telegraphy by Karl Ferdinand Braun. 1909 lecture, printed p. 234: Strasbourg stations, coil-spacing test and air-thermometer readout
The comparison tests receiver coupling, not an unrestricted law that looser coupling always helps. The paragraph does not identify the particular indicator used in the coil-spacing test or give a response curve from which to reconstruct its optimum. The plotted curves below are an original linear model with stated losses, rather than invented historical measurements.
Karl Ferdinand Braun Created 2026-10-18 Updated 2026-11-05
Karl Ferdinand Braun investigated how coupled electrical circuits transfer and build up oscillatory power for wireless telegraphy. His lecture describes coupling several circuits of the same frequency into the transmitter's excitation circuit. Making them start to discharge at nearly the same time was a substantive experimental difficulty; he discusses a timing requirement of order and an arrangement called energy coupling. The example connects circuit geometry and timing with the useful oscillation delivered to an antenna.[ref]
Electrical Oscillations and Wireless Telegraphy by Karl Ferdinand Braun. 1909 lecture, p. 229, Fig. 3 and simultaneous excitation of coupled circuits
A physicist.[ref]
https://physique-ingenierie.unistra.fr/en/faculty/translate-to-english-histoire-de-la-faculte/. Independent biographical identity and professional specialization
Portrait of Karl Ferdinand Braun
. Source. Wireless telegraphy connects an oscillating electrical circuit to a distant receiver. Tuning and coupling determine how effectively the circuit transfers a signal.
