Gravitional lensing could simplify interstellar communications

[Brian G Turner]

This could be of particular interest to our hard SF writers:
Sun’s gravity could power interstellar video streaming

To receive even a single-watt signal from a probe in Alpha Centauri, the nearest star system to our own, independent astrophysicist Michael Hippke found that an Earth-based instrument would need to be 53 kilometres across – bigger than New York City.

In his study, Hippke proposes instead that a telescope about a metre across could relay the signal. It would just have to be placed at a point about 90 billion km from the sun – a distance that would optimise an effect known as gravitational lensing to magnify the signal.

 

[Vertigo]

That's an interesting one. I'd never thought of using gravitational lenses to magnify a transmission like this but it is absolutely logical. Still limited to light speed of course!