Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Jun 2010
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010asbio..10..491b&link_type=abstract
Astrobiology, Volume 10, Issue 5, pp. 491-498.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
3
Seti, Meti, Microwave, Power Beaming, Beacons, Radio Astronomy, Array Antennas, High-Power Microwaves
Scientific paper
What would SETI beacon transmitters be like if built by civilizations that had a variety of motives but cared about cost? In a companion paper, we presented how, for fixed power density in the far field, a cost-optimum interstellar beacon system could be built. Here, we consider how we should search for a beacon if it were produced by a civilization similar to ours. High-power transmitters could be built for a wide variety of motives other than the need for two-way communication; this would include beacons built to be seen over thousands of light-years. Extraterrestrial beacon builders would likely have to contend with economic pressures just as their terrestrial counterparts do. Cost, spectral lines near 1 GHz, and interstellar scintillation favor radiating frequencies substantially above the classic "water hole." Therefore, the transmission strategy for a distant, cost-conscious beacon would be a rapid scan of the galactic plane with the intent to cover the angular space. Such pulses would be infrequent events for the receiver. Such beacons built by distant, advanced, wealthy societies would have very different characteristics from what SETI researchers seek. Future searches should pay special attention to areas along the galactic disk where SETI searches have seen coherent signals that have not recurred on the limited listening time intervals we have used. We will need to wait for recurring events that may arriarrive in intermittent bursts. Several new SETI search strategies have emerged from these ideas. We propose a new test for beacons that is based on the Life Plane hypotheses.
Benford Dominic
Benford Gregory
Benford James
No associations
LandOfFree
Searching for Cost-Optimized Interstellar Beacons does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Searching for Cost-Optimized Interstellar Beacons, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Searching for Cost-Optimized Interstellar Beacons will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-835299