| Optical SETI Map | Conferences Map | Illustrations Map | Photo Galleries Map | Observations Map | Constructing Map |
|
4273-08 The PhotonStar Project by Monte Ross and Stuart A. Kingsley
Abstract The PhotonStar SETI project is an enterprise to detect extraterrestrial laser
signals that involves many individual small telescopes acting together as a
geographically diverse large array which together comprise a large collection
area, thereby, offering a better chance of detection if signals exist.
Widely separated small telescopes, each with a sensitive photon detection
capability, can be aimed simultaneously at the same star system with precise
timing that enables looking at the same time for short pulse detection.
Each individual telescope can be located via GPS so that the differential
distance from the star compared to every other telescope can be determined
beforehand. Coordination via the Internet would enable each telescope to
operate as one element of the array. This project allows direct public
participation by amateur astronomers into the search for extraterrestrial
intelligence as there are thousands of telescopes of eight inches or greater in
use, so that the total collection area can be very substantial with public
participation. In this way, each telescope is part of a larger array with data
being sent via the Internet to a central station. This approach is only
feasible now with the advent of GPS, the Internet, and relatively low-cost
single photon detector technology. Keywords Laser, Signals, SETI, Optical, Single, Photon, Detection, Collectors, Pulses, Internet.
Principal Author Biography Monte Ross, IEEE Fellow and Fellow McDonnell Douglas for work in space laser communications. Author of book "Laser Receivers", NSF consultant and author of over 50 papers on laser communications. Former Director of Laser Communications for McDonnell Douglas, past president-International Laser Communications Society.
Principal Author Affiliation
Correspondence for Secondary Author
| ||||||||||
