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Astrophysics > Astrophysics of Galaxies

arXiv:2201.11123 (astro-ph)
[Submitted on 26 Jan 2022 (v1), last revised 27 Jan 2022 (this
version, v2)]

Title:Project Hephaistos I. Upper limits on partial Dyson spheres in
the Milky Way

Authors:Matias Suazo, Erik Zackrisson, Jason T. Wright, Andreas Korn,
Macy Huston
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    Abstract: Dyson spheres are hypothetical megastructures built by
    advanced extraterrestrial civilizations to harvest radiation
    energy from stars. Here, we combine optical data from Gaia DR2
    with mid-infrared data from AllWISE to set the strongest upper
    limits to date on the prevalence of partial Dyson spheres within
    the Milky Way, based on their expected waste-heat signatures.
    Conservative upper limits are presented on the fraction of stars
    at G $\leq$ 21 that may potentially host non-reflective Dyson
    spheres that absorb 1 - 90$\%$ of the bolometric luminosity of
    their host stars and emit thermal waste-heat in the 100 - 1000 K
    range. Based on a sample of $\approx$ $2.7\mathrm{e}\,5$ stars
    within 100 pc, we find that a fraction less than $\approx$ $2\
    mathrm{e}\,-5$ could potentially host $\sim$300 K Dyson spheres
    at 90$\%$ completion. These limits become progressively weaker
    for less complete Dyson spheres due to increased confusion with
    naturally occurring sources of strong mid-infrared radiation, and
    also at larger distances, due to the detection limits of WISE.
    For the $\sim2.9\mathrm{e}\,8$ stars within 5 kpc in our Milky
    Way sample, the corresponding upper limit on the fraction of
    stars that could potentially be $\sim$300 K Dyson spheres at 90$\
    %$ completion is $\leq$ $8\mathrm{e}\,-4$.

Comments: Accepted for publication in MNRAS
Subjects: Astrophysics of Galaxies (astro-ph.GA); Solar and Stellar
          Astrophysics (astro-ph.SR)
Cite as:  arXiv:2201.11123 [astro-ph.GA]
          (or arXiv:2201.11123v2 [astro-ph.GA] for this version)
          https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2201.11123
          Focus to learn more
          arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite
Related   https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stac280
DOI:      Focus to learn more
          DOI(s) linking to related resources

Submission history

From: Matias Suazo [view email]
[v1] Wed, 26 Jan 2022 18:59:36 UTC (4,174 KB)
[v2] Thu, 27 Jan 2022 17:56:27 UTC (4,174 KB)
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