OSETI INTERSTELLAR LASER COMMUNICATIONS LINK (iLCL): PARAMETERS,
MECHANISMS, CONCEPTS
Joseph S. Horwath
COI Inc.
400 Oyster Point Blvd Ste 415
South San Francisco, CA 94080
or
Copyright: Stuart Kingsley
Abstract
Can optical SETI contact, and possibly communication, be established via Electro-Optic
means, with ETI "technical civilizations", who like us-potentially-might be
residing within the galaxy? Specifically, can laser "Beacons" or interstellar
Laser Communications Links (iLCL), be implemented with current or future, but foreseeable
Electro-Optic Technology (EOT)? If so, what are the parameters, mechanisms, and concepts
by which such systems could be mechanized? If indeed, electro-optic UV/VIS/IR sensors
would detect signals from a remote extraterrestrial origin - from where, and from how far
away, might such signals come from? How would we respond to them? The theme, here
envisioned, is that a "Listen-only" strategy could/should be complemented with
EOT/laser transmissions by us, terrestrials, so-as to result in a "Receive &
transmit" strategy. This form of proactivity could markedly enhance the probability
of ultimate successful contact. It is projected that this can be accomplished by the use
of suitably configured, space-based High Power Laser Sources (sb/HPLS). Such devices would
probably be operating at short optical wavelengths (VIS & UV), into diffraction
limited large aperture optics, pointed with high precision and accuracy, at candidate
stellar systems.
A SNR link-analysis was carried out, for such iLCL systems, in both a Pulsed and
CW-mode of operation. Laser systems, using 1 MW average output power assumptions, were
utilized as a base-line. Operating ranges, pulse energies, and pulse widths were
parametized over a spectrum of optical wavelengths. It is shown that UV/VIS/IR
Pulsed-laser systems operating in the "Beacon" or lower data-rate mode, might
variously operate over such interstellar ranges, (10-3,000 LY) at imputed
"Optimistic" and "Nominal"-regimes of likelihood of contact. It is
recognized, that "Pessimistic"-regime ranges of 3,000-10,000 LY or more, might
be required to surmount the Drake Equation probabilities to establish communicative
contact. Additionally, a sufficient COEVALITY must exist to prevent evolutionary
time-phase-delay, between communicating agencies from establishing and maintaining, an
enduring OSETI-type Interstellar laser communications link (ILCL) contact.
19 Pages
RealAudio (23 min 20 sec) 
|
