If extraterrestrial intelligence exists somewhere in our galaxy, a new MIT study proposes that laser technology on Earth could, in principle, be fashioned into something of a planetary porch light — a beacon strong enough to attract attention from as far as 20,000 light years away.
The research, which author James Clark calls a "feasibility study," appears today in The Astrophysical Journal. The findings suggest that if a high-powered 1- to 2-megawatt laser were focused through a massive 30- to 45-meter telescope and aimed out into space, the combination would produce a beam of infrared radiation strong enough to stand out from the sun's energy.
Such a signal could be detectable by alien astronomers performing a cursory survey of our section of the Milky Way — especially if those astronomers live in nearby systems, such as around Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to Earth, or TRAPPIST-1, a star about 40 light-years away that hosts seven exoplanets, three of which are potentially habitable. If the signal is spotted from either of these nearby systems, the study finds, the same megawatt laser could be used to send a brief message in the form of pulses similar to Morse code.
Also at EarthSky.
Optical Detection of Lasers with Near-term Technology at Interstellar Distances (DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/aae380) (DX)
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 08 2018, @07:19PM (2 children)
You know what could also be done with a 2MW(optical!) laser pointed upwards? Hint: it involves smoldering hunks of metal formerly known as satellites.
Does anybody honestly think that any of the US, Russia and China would allow any country on earth, including the aforementioned three, to build such a device?
I'll bet my silly ass that each of the three would pull all available stops, including ICBMs and orbital bombardment, to prevent this laser from being built.
(Score: 2) by stretch611 on Thursday November 08 2018, @10:29PM (1 child)
All we need to do to build this is to put mirrors around the orange one's toupee
Now with 5 covid vaccine shots/boosters altering my DNA :P
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday November 08 2018, @10:59PM
How do you propose to get coherent radiation from the orange one? Hell, how do you propose we get coherent anything from the orange one?