An economic rationale for extraterrestrials using lasers for SETI

Monte Ross

doi:10.1117/12.150116

6 August 1993 An economic rationale for extraterrestrials using lasers for SETI

Monte Ross

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 1867, The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) in the Optical Spectrum; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.150116
Event: OE/LASE'93: Optics, Electro-Optics, and Laser Applications in Scienceand Engineering, 1993, Los Angeles, CA, United States

Abstract

In every society throughout history key decisions have been based on economics. Constrained by the technology of their day, each society always have more demands on its wealth than it can readily dispense. There are always competing recipients of the same limited funds (i.e., new post office building or another C-17 transport). This paper shows why the laser is a far more economic choice than RF or microwaves for transmission over many light years. This is based on antenna gain considerations, 'habitable regions' near a star, and knowledge of the star types that can sustain intelligent life.

Citation Download Citation

Monte Ross "An economic rationale for extraterrestrials using lasers for SETI", Proc. SPIE 1867, The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) in the Optical Spectrum, (6 August 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.150116

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