Are there cameras that see microwaves?

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There are cameras that can see infrared and ultraviolet, what about microwaves and other wavelengths?

If we had a camera that only images microwaves for example, could we see wi-fi and Bluetooth as they reflect off surfaces?

What are the main limitations of building something like this? Is it the size difference between wavelength and sensor size?

In: Physics

11 Answers

Anonymous 0 Comments

We can’t use normal camera sensors because of physics, i.e. the physical properties and the nature of light and electromagnetism.

In order to detect a photon, we use a CCD or CMOS sensor. They are designed to detect photons, and has to do with how photons travel and interact with things.

To detect radio wavelengths, we use antennas. They “couple” to the EM field and so any changes local to the antenna are induced as current changes in the antenna itself.

Compared to a photon, microwave wavelengths are huge.

So to take a “snapshot” of the EM field you would need an array of antennas.

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