Sign on

SAO/NASA ADS Astronomy Abstract Service

· Find Similar Abstracts (with default settings below)
· Full Refereed Journal Article (PDF/Postscript)
· Full Refereed Scanned Article (GIF)
· arXiv e-print (arXiv:0810.2222)
· References in the article
· Citations to the Article (15) (Citation History)
· Refereed Citations to the Article
· Also-Read Articles (Reads History)
·
· Translate This Page
Title:
A numerical testbed for hypotheses of extraterrestrial life and intelligence
Authors:
Forgan, D. H.
Affiliation:
AA(Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA), Institute for Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Royal Observatory Edinburgh, Blackford Hill, Edinburgh EH9 3HJ, UK )
Publication:
International Journal of Astrobiology, Volume 8, Issue 2, p. 121-131
Publication Date:
04/2009
Origin:
CUP
Keywords:
Drake Equation, extraterrestrial intelligence, Fermi Paradox, Monte Carlo, numerical, SETI
DOI:
10.1017/S1473550408004321
Bibliographic Code:
2009IJAsB...8..121F

Abstract

The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) has been heavily influenced by solutions to the Drake Equation, which returns an integer value for the number of communicating civilizations resident in the Milky Way, and by the Fermi Paradox, glibly stated as: ‘If they are there, where are they?’. Both rely on using average values of key parameters, such as the mean signal lifetime of a communicating civilization. A more accurate answer must take into account the distribution of stellar, planetary and biological attributes in the galaxy, as well as the stochastic nature of evolution itself. This paper outlines a method of Monte Carlo realization that does this, and hence allows an estimation of the distribution of key parameters in SETI, as well as allowing a quantification of their errors (and the level of ignorance therein). Furthermore, it provides a means for competing theories of life and intelligence to be compared quantitatively.

Printing Options

Send high resolution image to Level 2 Postscript Printer
Send low resolution image to Level 2 Postscript Printer
Send low resolution image to Level 1 Postscript Printer
Get high resolution PDF image
Get low resolution PDF
Send 300 dpi image to PCL Printer
Send 150 dpi image to PCL Printer

More Article Retrieval Options

HELP for Article Retrieval
Bibtex entry for this abstract   Preferred format for this abstract (see Preferences)
  New!

Find Similar Abstracts:

Use: Authors
Title
Keywords (in text query field)
Abstract Text
Return: Query Results Return    items starting with number
Query Form
Database: Astronomy
Physics
arXiv e-prints