Group 40: Intelligent Life In The Universe, SETI 18'318'4

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Group 40 Intelligent Life In The Universe, SETI
(18.3-18.4)

• Alex Chan, Angela Kim, Greg Wong
• Justin Grooms, Melanie Komure

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Overview

• The Drake Equation (18.3)
• Rate of Star Formation
• Fraction of Stars Having Planetary Systems
• Number of Habitable Planets per Planetary System
• Fraction of Habitable Planets on Which Life
  Arises
• Fraction of Life-Bearing Planets on Which
  Intelligence Arises
• Fraction of Planets on Which Intelligent Life
  Develops and Uses Technology
• Average Lifetime of a Technological Civilization
• Search For Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI)
  (18.4)
• Meeting Our Neighbors
• Radio Communication
• The Water Hole

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The Drake Equation

• A mathematical equation based on statistics and
  assumptions to estimate the probability that
  intelligence exists elsewhere in the Galaxy
• N R fp ne fl fi fc L
• Reliability decreases from the first term to the
  last of the Drake Equation

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Rate of Star Formation

• Constant R, the average rate of star formation of
  the galaxy
• Assuming there are 100-billion stars in the
  galaxy, and the galaxy is 10-billion years old,
  10 stars form per year

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Fraction of Stars Having Planetary Systems

• Constant fp, based on the condensation theory and
  assumes that all stars have planetary systems
• Holds a value of 1

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Number of Habitable Planets per Planetary System

• Constant ne, number of planets that have climates
  suitable for living according to human standards
• Holds a value of 1/10th assuming that there is
  one potentially habitable planet for every 10
  planetary systems

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Fraction of Habitable Planets on Which Life Arises

• Constant fl, fraction of planets that actually
  have life
• Holds a value of 1 with the assumption that with
  the proper time and place, life is inevitable

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Fraction of Life-bearing Planets on Which
Intelligence Arises

• Constant fi, fraction of planets that actually
  have intelligent life due to natural selection
• Holds a value of 1 with the assumption that with
  the proper time and place, intelligent life is
  inevitable

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Fraction of Planets on Which Intelligent Life
Develops and Uses Technology

• Constant fc, fraction of planets that actually
  have intelligent life that develop and use
  technology
• Holds a value of 1 with the assumption that given
  time and some intelligence, technology is
  inevitable

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Average Lifetime of a Technological Civilization

• Constant L, length of time that civilizations
  release detectable signals into space
• Assumes that if intelligent civilizations last
  for X number of years, then there are X number of
  civilizations in existence

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Meeting our Neighbors

• Assuming the average lifetime of a civilization
  is 1 million yearsdinosaursgt1 million yearsgt
  humans
• So distance 30pc 100 light years
• Two way communication would require 200 years
  minimum for a transaction

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Radio Communication

• Radio communication is based on light speeds
  which are the most inexpensive and efficient way
  to communicate
• Longer wavelengths are better because the smaller
  wavelengths get scattered

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The Water Hole

• Water is likely to be the interaction medium for
  life
• Region of wavelengths that other civilizations
  are most likely to communicate with
• Hydrogen 21cm
• OH 18cm

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