Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T08:30:37.374Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Galactic exploration by directed self-replicating probes, and its implications for the Fermi paradox

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2012

Martin T. Barlow
Martin T. Barlow*
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. V6T 1Z2, Canada e-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper proposes a long-term scheme for robotic exploration of the galaxy, and then considers the implications in terms of the ‘Fermi paradox’ and our search for extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI). We discuss the ‘Galactic ecology’ of civilizations in terms of the parameters T (time between ET civilizations arising) and L, the lifetime of these civilizations. Six different regions are described.

Keywords

fermi paradoxgalactic explorationsearch for extraterrestrial lifeself-replicating probes
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 12 , Issue 1 , January 2013 , pp. 63 - 68
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bjørk, R. (2007). Exploring the galaxy using space probes. Int. J. Astrobiol. 6, 89–93.Google Scholar
Freitas, R.A. Jr. (1980a). Interstellar probes: a new approach to SETI. J. Br. Interplanet. Soc. 33, 95–100.Google Scholar
Freitas, R.A. Jr. (1980b). A self-reproducing interstellar probe. J. Br. Interplanet. Soc. 33, 251–264.Google Scholar
Glade, N., Ballet, P. & Bastien, O. (2012). A stochastic process approach of the drake equation parameters. Int. J. Astrobiology. 11, 103–108.Google Scholar
Landis, G.A. (1998). The fermi paradox: an approach based on percolation theory. J. Br. Interplanet. Soc. 51, 163–166.Google Scholar
Lineweaver, C.H., Fenner, Y. & Gibson, B.K. (2004). The galactical habitable zone and the age distribution of complex life in the Milky Way. Science 303, 59–62.Google Scholar
Mathews, J.D. (2011). From here to ET. J. Br. Interplanet. Soc. 64, 234–241.Google Scholar
Sagan, C. & Newman, W. (1983). The solipsist approach to extraterrestial intelligence. Q. J. R. Astron. Soc. 24, 113–121.Google Scholar
Tipler, F.J. (1980). Extraterrestial intelligent beings do not exist. Q. J. R. Astron. Soc. 21, 267–281.Google Scholar
Ward, R. & Brownlee, D. (2000). Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe. Springer, Berlin.Google Scholar
Wiley, K.B. (2012). The Fermi Paradox, self-replicating probes, and the interstellar transportation bandwidth. ArXiv:1111.6131v1.Google Scholar