Detecting Signals Traveling at C+

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LeeRyder

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Message 805641 - Posted: 6 Sep 2008, 22:34:28 UTC

I've been trying to figure out if (and how) we could possibly detect any type(s) of signals that would be traveling at speeds greater than C.

Firstly, is it possible our current level of technology would be able to actually pick up and recognize transmissions that would be traveling at speeds greater than C, even if "E.T." managed to keep the wavelengths the same as the ranges we are looking for?

It would seem likely that any alien cultures that had any type of interstellar travel available to them would want to be able to communicate in real time or as close to it as they could.. and if they've mastered interstellar travel, it would (also) seem likely they would have conquered communications as such.

If not or if we just don't know yet.. is there any possible way to "test" our current tech to search or detect faster than C communiques?
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Message 805667 - Posted: 7 Sep 2008, 0:17:06 UTC - in response to Message 805641.  

... If not or if we just don't know yet.. is there any possible way to "test" our current tech to search or detect faster than C communiques?

If their signals were 'detectable' by us or even intercepted, then we may well 'see' some form of Cerenkov radiation. However, that is unlikely because that would suggest that the signal propagation is lossy and so it wouldn't get very far.

That then suggests that ET would be using some physics that we so far have no idea about and that we wouldn't even recognise even if detected in some way!


Hence some of the open-ended nature for the s@h search to look for anything that could be artificial...

Keep searchin',
Martin

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LeeRyder

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Message 809433 - Posted: 18 Sep 2008, 9:34:01 UTC - in response to Message 805667.  
Last modified: 18 Sep 2008, 9:36:03 UTC

... If not or if we just don't know yet.. is there any possible way to "test" our current tech to search or detect faster than C communiques?

If their signals were 'detectable' by us or even intercepted, then we may well 'see' some form of Cerenkov radiation. However, that is unlikely because that would suggest that the signal propagation is lossy and so it wouldn't get very far.

That then suggests that ET would be using some physics that we so far have no idea about and that we wouldn't even recognise even if detected in some way,


Hence some of the open-ended nature for the s@h search to look for anything that could be artificial...

Keep searchin',
Martin



OK, no disrespect intended, and I do thank you for your reply.

We should presume that all "issues", technical or otherwise, have been worked out by the alien world, making "it" a viable form of long distance communication. (radiation, etc not withstanding).

The question I am putting forward is can our technology detect, let alone "comprehend" radio, or otherwise, communications traveling at speeds faster than C if sent in the spectrum(s) "we" are analyzing??
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Message 809435 - Posted: 18 Sep 2008, 10:31:08 UTC - in response to Message 809433.  
Last modified: 18 Sep 2008, 10:37:22 UTC

...Hence some of the open-ended nature for the s@h search to look for anything that could be artificial...

OK, no disrespect intended, and I do thank you for your reply.

... but you don't follow the ideas in it...

We should presume that all "issues", technical or otherwise, have been worked out by the alien world, making "it" a viable form of long distance communication. (radiation, etc not withstanding).

There is "technical" as in how do you generate tremendous transmitter power and then intelligently modulate that power. Good and fine and we can do that already for electromagnetic radiation. However, the physics for that type of radiation is that propagation is at the speed of light.

To do anything 'different' or 'faster propagation', then we need to discover new physical effects. That is, new "physics".

The question I am putting forward is can our technology detect, let alone "comprehend" radio, or otherwise, communications traveling at speeds faster than C if sent in the spectrum(s) "we" are analyzing??

Sorry, our present detectors cannot 'comprehend' anything for which they have not been designed to detect...

Our present technology can detect effects that we presently know and understand. For our present framework of understanding of physics, our best theories suggest that nothing physical can propagate faster than the speed of light.

That means that all our present detection devices are designed to detect only 'light speed' or slower effects.

At best, to 'see' anything else, if there is an interaction with a detector, that might be seen as an "anomaly". The problem then is to recognise the new physics to recognise the new form of detection.

Hence, s@h is searching for anything that is recognised as "not natural".


To do anything more, we need to advance our own understanding of physics so that we know what to look for. Otherwise, you may as well try looking for mythical ghosts. Quantum entanglement anyone?...


It is a great shame that a certain Bush appears to be intent on strangling all of science just to "hush-up" anything to do with Global Warming and Climate Change...

Keep searchin',
Martin
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Take a look for yourself: Linux Format
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