Signalling over stellar distances with X-rays.
Abstract
It is shown in a rough calculation that a chunk of rock about 1 km in size and of mass 10 to the 13th power kg dropped onto a neutron star could produce an X-ray pulse of about 10 to the 36th power ergs, strong enough to be detectable throughout the Galaxy. An advanced civilization with mobility over a region a few parsecs in size may therefore be able to transmit a crude broadband and omnidirectional X-ray signal. Modulating the X-ray luminosity of an X-ray source may also be possible with the aid of an orbiting metal screen about one million km in size.
- Publication:
-
Journal of the British Interplanetary Society
- Pub Date:
- March 1977
- Bibcode:
- 1977JBIS...30..112F
- Keywords:
-
- Interstellar Communication;
- Neutron Stars;
- Signal Transmission;
- X Ray Sources;
- Binary Stars;
- Extraterrestrial Life;
- Gravitational Effects;
- Pulsed Radiation;
- Signal Reception;
- Space Sciences (General)