Searching for Extraterrestrial Intelligence with the Square Kilometre Array

Siemion, Andrew; Benford, James; Jin, Chengjin; Chennamangalam, Jayanth; Cordes, J. M.; Falcke, H.; Garrington, S. T.; Garrett, M. A.; Gurvits, Leonid; Hoare, M. G.; Korpela, Eric; Lazio, Joseph; Messerschmitt, David G.; Morrison, Ian S.; O’Brien, T. J.; Paragi, Zsolt; Penny, A. J.; Spitler, Laura; Tarter, Jill; Werthimer, Dan

doi:10.22323/1.215.0116

Cited by 47 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…The data analysis presented in this paper focuses on narrowband signals. We aim to address other signal types-in particular, pulsed broadband signals-in future detection pipelines employing a wider variety of signal detection methodologies (e.g., Siemion et al 2015). For example, the signal found while observing HIP 7981 could potentially be identified by a machine learning approach as local RFI.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Breakthrough Listen Search for Intelligent Life: 1.1–1.9 GHz Observations of 692 Nearby Stars

Enriquez

Siemion

Foster

et al. 2017

ApJ

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We report on a search for engineered signals from a sample of 692 nearby stars using the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope, undertaken as part of the Breakthrough Listen Initiative search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Observations were made over 1.1-1.9 GHz (L band), with three sets of five-minute observations of the 692 primary targets, interspersed with five-minute observations of secondary targets. By comparing the "ON" and "OFF" observations, we are able to identify terrestrial interference and place limits on the presence of engineered signals from putative extraterrestrial civilizations inhabiting the environs of the target stars. During the analysis, 11 events passed our thresholding algorithm, but a detailed analysis of their properties indicates that they are consistent with known examples of anthropogenic radio-frequency interference. We conclude that, at the time of our observations, none of the observed systems host high-duty-cycle radio transmitters emitting between 1.1 and 1.9 GHz with an Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power of ∼10 13 W, which is readily achievable by our own civilization. Our results suggest that fewer than ∼0.1% of the stellar systems within 50 pc possess the type of transmitters searched in this survey.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Breakthrough Listen Search for Intelligent Life: 1.1–1.9 GHz Observations of 692 Nearby Stars

Enriquez

Siemion

Foster

et al. 2017

ApJ

Self Cite

139

335

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Breakthrough Listen has also begun a spectroscopic search for optical laser emission on the 2.4-meter Automated Planet Finder of Lick Observatory (see Section 7). Commensal, beam-forming radio observations with the future MeerKAT array and the Square Kilometer Array, (Siemion et al 2014) would be 100x more sensitive to SETI radio signals than prior searches and would have the ability to survey millions of stars and galaxies limited by back-end compute power. The interest in optical and near-infrared extraterrestrial laser emission has spurred searches for pulses having duration as short as a nanosecond or displaying periodicities (Howard et al 2004(Howard et al , 2007Korpela et al 2011;Drake et al 2010;Mead 2013;Covault 2013;Leeb et al 2013;Gillon 2014;Wright et al 2014ab).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Search for Laser Emission with Megawatt Thresholds from 5600 FGKM Stars

Tellis¹,

Marcy²

2017

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We searched high resolution spectra of 5600 nearby stars for emission lines that are both inconsistent with a natural origin and unresolved spatially, as would be expected from extraterrestrial optical lasers.The spectra were obtained with the Keck 10-meter telescope, including light coming from within 0.5 arcsec of the star, corresponding typically to within a few to tens of au of the star, and covering nearly the entire visible wavelength range from 3640 to 7890 Å. We establish detection thresholds by injecting synthetic laser emission lines into our spectra and blindly analyzing them for detections. We compute flux density detection thresholds for all wavelengths and spectral types sampled. Our detection thresholds for the power of the lasers themselves range from 3 kW to 13 MW, independent of distance to the star but dependent on the competing "glare" of the spectral energy distribution of the star and on the wavelength of the laser light, launched from a benchmark, diffraction-limited 10-meter class telescope. We found no such laser emission coming from the planetary region around any of the 5600 stars. As they contain roughly 2000 lukewarm, Earth-size planets, we rule out models of the Milky Way in which over 0.1% of warm, Earth-size planets harbor technological civilizations that, intentionally or not, are beaming optical lasers toward us. A next generation spectroscopic laser search will be done by the Breakthrough Listen initiative, targeting more stars, especially stellar types overlooked here including spectral types O, B, A, early F, late M, and brown dwarfs, and astrophysical exotica.

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“…The SKA phase I LOW has the potential to detect airport radar signals to distances of 10pc, within which there are 10 5 stars, most of which, we now know, have planets. SETI is clearly the most exploratory program with the highest return for the SKA, but it seems to me, must be pursued (Siemion et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Square Kilometre Array key science: a progressive retrospective

Carilli¹

2015

Proceedings of Advancing Astrophysics With the Square Kilometre Array — PoS(AASKA14)

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I summarize the science drivers presented at the workshop for Phase I of the Square Kilometre Array: 'Advancing Astrophysics with the Square Kilometre Array'. I build from the historical perspective of the original Key Science programs: 'Science with a Square Kilometre Array', and consider progress in astrophysics since 2004. I then present my 'score card' of the primary science drivers proposed by the Science Working Groups, and further developed in the white papers and presentations at the meeting, assuming a conservative high frequency of 3GHz. The science case for the SKA phase I is compelling, with the right mix of killer applications (eg. pulsars and gravity, 21cm cosmology), foundational radio astronomy (eg. cosmic magnetism, baryon cycle, high energy phenomena), and high risk-high return 'game-changing' programs (eg. fast radio bursts, BAO intensity mapping, SETI). A strong case was made at the conference for band 5 (4 to 15GHz), in particular in the area of planet formation and exobiology. Such a capability engages the rapidly growing exoplanet community, and enables fundamental break-throughs in most of the key science areas. The case for real-time data spigots that allow for commensal observing is also strong. Ultimately, the greatest discoveries that will come from the SKA are likely even richer still, and beyond prognostication.

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Searching for Extraterrestrial Intelligence with the Square Kilometre Array

Cited by 47 publications

References 40 publications

The Breakthrough Listen Search for Intelligent Life: 1.1–1.9 GHz Observations of 692 Nearby Stars

The Breakthrough Listen Search for Intelligent Life: 1.1–1.9 GHz Observations of 692 Nearby Stars

A Search for Laser Emission with Megawatt Thresholds from 5600 FGKM Stars

Square Kilometre Array key science: a progressive retrospective

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