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Title
Abstract
Optical Seti Background
Technical Overview
Opto-Mechanical Design
Observatory Design
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Physics
Astrophysics

Panoramic SETI: An all-sky fast time-domain observatory

Profile image of Michael AronsonMichael Aronson

2019, Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society

Abstract

Optical and infrared Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) searches offer the ability to explore observational and experimental phase-space that is unique to traditional astrophysical observations. In the next decade, new SETI experiments will be developed, and coupling these to astrophysical programs will yield potentially transformative discoveries. We are designing a new optical and near-infrared (350 1650 nm) observatory designed to greatly enlarge the current SETI phase space. The Pulsed All-sky Near-infrared Optical SETI (PANOSETI) observatory will be a dedicated SETI facility that aims to increase sky area searched, wavelengths covered, number of stellar systems observed, and duration of time monitored. This observatory will offer an “all-observable-sky” optical and wide-field near-infrared pulsed technosignature and astrophysical transient search that is capable of surveying the entire northern hemisphere. The final implemented experiment will search for transient ...

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New SETI sky surveys for radio pulses
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Acta Astronautica, 2010

Berkeley conducts 7 SETI programs at IR, visible and radio wavelengths. Here we review two of the newest efforts, Astropulse and Fly's Eye.

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<title>Optical SETI observatories in the new millennium: a review</title>
Stuart Kingsley

The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) in the Optical Spectrum III, 2001

The Optical Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence is now 40 years old. However, it was only during the closing years of the 20 th Century, after a 25-year hiatus, that the optical search has regained respectability in the SETI community at large. The quarter-of-a-century delay in American Optical SETI research was due to a historical accident and not for the lack of any enabling technology. This review paper describes aspects of past, present and future Optical SETI programs. Emphasis is placed on detecting fast, pulsed attention-getting laser beacon signals rather than monochromatic, continuous wave beacons. Some examples of commercial detection equipment that may be employed for either type of OSETI are given. It is expected that in time, some of the great telescopes of the world will be employed in this optical search for ETI signals. This may take the form of either dedicated observations or a type of Optical SERENDIP program, as had been done with Microwave SETI. There will also be large observatories built dedicated only to the optical search. Just as the microwave SETI@Home project has proved very popular with the public, the time has come for its optical equivalent. This paper also speculates on the eventual need to move Optical SETI observatories into space with high altitude balloons and space-based telescopes. It is expected that by the end of the first decade of the Third Millennium, the electromagnetic search for extraterrestrial intelligence on planet Earth will be dominated by SETI of the optical kind.

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A near-infrared SETI experiment: instrument overview
Elliot Meyer

Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy V, 2014

We are designing and constructing a new SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) instrument to search for direct evidence of interstellar communications via pulsed laser signals at near-infrared wavelengths. The new instrument design builds upon our past optical SETI experiences, and is the first step toward a new, more versatile and sophisticated generation of very fast optical and near-infrared pulse search devices. We present our instrumental design by giving an overview of the opto-mechanical design, detector selection and characterization, signal processing, and integration procedure. This project makes use of near-infrared (950 -1650 nm) discrete amplification Avalanche Photodiodes (APD) that have > 1 GHz bandwidths with low noise characteristics and moderate gain (~10 4 ). We have investigated the use of single versus multiple detectors in our instrument (see Maire et al., this conference), and have optimized the system to have both high sensitivity and low false coincidence rates. Our design is optimized for use behind a 1m telescope and includes an optical camera for acquisition and guiding. A goal is to make our instrument relatively economical and easy to duplicate. We describe our observational setup and our initial search strategies for SETI targets, and for potential interesting compact astrophysical objects.

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PROSPECTS OF SETI BY SMALL SIZE OPTICAL TELESCOPES
Zaza Osmanov, Vazha Berezhiani

Serbian Astronomical Journal, 2022

In the present manuscript we consider the possibility of conducting SETI with small-size (with diameters less than 1 m) optical telescopes. Calculations are performed for typical parameters of the mentioned type of telescopes. In particular, we show that the techno-signatures of Type-2.x and Type-3.x civilizations might be detected. It is demonstrated that it is possible to detect hot megastructures (up to 4000 K) built around Main Sequence stars and pulsars, as well as von Neumann extraterrestrial probes.

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IAF Paper No. IAA-94-IAA.9.1.728 DESIGN FOR AN OPTICAL SETI OBSERVATORY
Stuart A Kingsley

1998

This paper describes the design and construction of the first Visible Optical SETI Observatory in North America. The rationale supporting this activity is also given. The Columbus Optical SETI Observatory is designed to detect ultra-fast pulsed laser beacon signals in the visible and near-infrared. The design and construction of The Columbus Optical SETI Observatory has been underway for two years and employs the Meade LX200 10&quot; (25.4-cm) Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope. Recently, this observatory acquired a 240 sq. ft. control/conference room and a 10 ft. diameter astronomical dome to house the telescope. The targeted search will formally begin next year, and will examine the same stars in the northern hemisphere presently under investigation by Microwave SETI&#39;s Project Phoenix. A photon-counter will be used to look for the fast laser pulses. Eventually, the photoncounting system employed will be capable of detecting pulses as short as 1 ns. Each night&#39;s observations will...

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COLIBRI, a wide-field 1.3 m robotic telescope dedicated to the transient sky
Alejandro Farah

HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), 2022

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Louis Piche

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2008

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Sensitive Multibeam Targeted SETI Observations toward 33 Exoplanet Systems with FAST
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The Astronomical Journal

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Pete Worden

arXiv: Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics, 2020

The discovery of ubiquitous habitable extrasolar planets, combined with revolutionary advances in instrumentation and observational capabilities, has ushered in a renaissance in the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence (SETI). Large scale SETI activities are now underway at numerous international facilities. The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST) is the largest single-aperture radio telescope in the world, well positioned to conduct sensitive searches for radio emission indicative of exo-intelligence. SETI is one of the five key science goals specified in the original FAST project plan. A collaboration with the Breakthrough Listen Initiative has been initiated in 2016 with a joint statement signed both by Dr. Jun Yan, the then director of the National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC), and Dr. Peter Worden, the Chairman of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation. In this paper, we highlight some of the unique features of FAST tha...

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