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- Title
A Search for Monochromatic Light from the Andromeda Galaxy.
- Authors
Paul, Ariana
- Abstract
The Andromeda Galaxy was surveyed for monochromatic sources by using an objective prism optical telescope. The survey consisted of capturing 150 images of the entire galaxy using exposure times of only 10 to 20 sec, giving optical spectra of every point within the galaxy. The goal was to detect any sources, including transients lasting less than 10 s, that emit a narrow range of wavelengths (<3 nm) inconsistent with known astrophysical emission lines. Two different cameras were employed, having pixel sizes of 11 and 3.7 microns, the latter offering superior cosmic ray discrimination from monochromatic light. The 150 images revealed no monochromatic emission, neither short-lived (under 20 s) nor lasting the 30-minute duration of the sequence of exposures. Injection and recovery of synthetic monochromatic sources verified that lasers could be detected and yielded a detection threshold of 1 photon per second. At the Andromeda Galaxy, that detection threshold corresponds to a laser having a power of roughly 100 Terawatts for a benchmark 10-meter laser launcher that is diffraction-limited. Any lasers more powerful and directed toward Earth would have been detected. None were found.
- Subjects
MONOCHROMATIC light; OPTICAL telescopes; COSMIC rays; EXTRATERRESTRIAL beings; ANDROMEDA Galaxy
- Publication
International Journal of High School Research, 2023, Vol 5, Issue 4, p23
- ISSN
2642-1046
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.36838/v5i4.4