Near and far field are usually explained for transmitting antennas, but since antennas are reciprocal, I would expect a receiving antenna to have a near-field phenomenon.
1) Does the impinging field (from a far-away transmitting antenna) cause the receiving antenna to develop its own near field, and what is its "shape" or "quality"? (I realize it would depend upon how far apart the antennas are.)
2)Continuing with this idea, is there a simulation anywhere such as this one made at MIT: http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/802TEAL3D/visualizations/light/dipoleRadiationReversing/DipoleRadiationReversing.htm except it shows two antennas simultaneously, one receiving and one transmitting? (Preferably, it would be a simulation of a transient broadcast.)
3)If there is a derived near field at the receiver, does the receiving antenna then re-broadcast any energy?
4)Extra credit: Does this touch upon Physics' "Arrow of Time" question?
Best Answer
Yes, antennas are reciprocal in every way.
It's the same as for any antenna.
Yes, it's the same simulation.
Yes, but you can't distinguish it from the impinging signal. Its effects are seen as a modification of the field — a reflection or refraction.
No, not really.
Bascially, any conductive or dielectric object will interact with a propagating EM wave in a way that is defined by Maxwell's equations. You can think of the object as creating a local modification to the effective impedance of the space around it. The field causes charges to move, and moving charges cause propagating fields. It really doesn't matter "which came first".
The Feynman Lectures on Physics, particularly volume II, provide a lot of insight into this topic.