The search for directed intelligence

Abstract

We propose a search for sources of directed energy systems such as those now becoming technologically feasible on Earth. Recent advances in our own abilities allow us to foresee our own capability that will radically change our ability to broadcast our presence. We show that systems of this type have the ability to be detected at vast distances and indeed can be detected across the entire horizon. This profoundly changes the possibilities for searches for extra-terrestrial technology advanced civilizations. We show that even modest searches can be extremely effective at detecting or limiting many civilization classes. We propose a search strategy, using small Earth based telescopes, that will observe more than 1012 stellar and planetary systems with possible extensions to more than 1020 systems allowing us to test the hypothesis that other similarly or more advanced civilization with this same capability, and are broadcasting, exist. We show that such searches have unity probability of detecting even a single comparably advanced civilization anywhere in our galaxy within a relatively short search time (few years) IF that civilization adopts a simple beacon strategy we call “intelligent targeting”, IF that civilization is beaconing at a wavelength we can detect and IF that civilization left the beacon on long enough for the light to reach us now. In this blind beacon and blind search strategy the civilization does not need to know where we are nor do we need to know where they are. This same basic strategy can be extended to extragalactic distances.