Journal article
The Solar Wind Power Satellite as an alternative to a traditional Dyson Sphere and its implications for remote detection
International journal of astrobiology, Vol.9(2), pp.89-99
04/2010
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/114349
Abstract
The search for Dyson Spheres has been propelled not only by the hope of discovering intelligent alien life, but by humanity's ever-increasing need for energy. However, the Dyson Sphere is not a practical design, requiring too much matter to build and too much energy to stabilize. Here we discuss the various designs of a Dyson Sphere and propose the Solar Wind Power (SWP) Satellite, a simplistic, self-sustaining system that draws power from the solar wind and uses a laser to fire energy to collectors (on space stations, bases, etc.) positioned anywhere in the Solar System. While a small SWP Satellite can provide an estimated 2 MW of power, larger (or networks of) satellites could provide terawatts of power or more. The cost of the SWP Satellite would be relatively cheap – it primarily consists of shaped copper, with only a few complex systems onboard. Detection of such a satellite would be difficult using current technology, because at this time we can only detect solar wind deviations of up to 10−13 MS yr−1, while a 2 MW satellite would only divert 10−34 MS yr−1. Thus, only very large SWP Satellites could possibly be detected.
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Details
- Title
- The Solar Wind Power Satellite as an alternative to a traditional Dyson Sphere and its implications for remote detection
- Creators
- Brooks L Harrop - 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Washington State University, Pullman, WA99164, USA e-mail: harrop_b@hotmail.comDirk Schulze-Makuch - 2School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA99164, USA
- Publication Details
- International journal of astrobiology, Vol.9(2), pp.89-99
- Academic Unit
- UNKNOWN
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press; Cambridge, UK
- Number of pages
- 11
- Identifiers
- 99900547310701842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article