Is 10K Resolution Possible for Faster-Than-Light Transmissions?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Gold Barz
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility of detecting technological civilizations located 1000 light years away, particularly in the context of radio wave transmission and the implications of not having detected such civilizations yet. Participants explore various aspects of communication, detection capabilities, and the assumptions surrounding the existence of extraterrestrial life.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants question whether 10K (10,000) resolution is reasonable in the context of faster-than-light transmissions.
  • There are inquiries about the ability to detect radio waves clearly from 1000 light years away, with some suggesting it is theoretically possible depending on signal strength.
  • Concerns are raised about the assumption that the lack of detected signals implies the absence of technological species within that distance.
  • Some argue that radio waves do not weaken significantly over distance, while others counter that intensity decreases as photons spread out.
  • Participants discuss the possibility of technologically advanced civilizations existing contemporaneously with humanity but remaining undetected due to environmental factors or different communication methods.
  • One participant suggests that a civilization on a planet with a dense atmosphere might develop landline communication instead of radio, potentially leading to a lack of detectable signals.
  • There is a mention of the vastness of the universe and the limitations of current observational capabilities, which may contribute to the absence of detected signals.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the assumption that older civilizations would necessarily have discovered more efficient means of communication than radio.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views, with no clear consensus on the assumptions regarding the existence of technological civilizations or the implications of not detecting them. Disagreements exist regarding the nature of radio wave transmission and the conditions under which detection might be possible.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on assumptions about technological development, the nature of communication methods, and the observational capabilities of current technology. The discussion also highlights the uncertainty surrounding the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations.

  • #31
Chronos said:
The frequency thing is a little dicey, but broadcasting at the 21 cm wavelength would be a no-brainer for any advanced civilization

Whys that?
 
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  • #32
Yaaks said:
On the Contrary, Electromagnetic waves of all freq. (including Radio waves) undergo Red-Shift as Space expands (however miniscule)..

There is no red shift due to expansion from our own galaxy.
 
  • #33
Pengwuino said:
Whys that?
21 cm is the frequency of neutral hydrogen. An advanced civilization would realize broadcasts at this frequency would have an excellent chance of being detected by other radio astronomers - who would naturally spend a lot of time mapping the distribution of neutral hydrogen.
 
  • #34
GOD__AM said:
There is no red shift due to expansion from our own galaxy.
Well!,, i was refrerring to the Universe as a whole, Generally speaking!...
i did not say that expanding space was the only factor influencing the red-shift phenomena..., Relative accelerating motion is also a factor (though relatively small when compared to the effects due to expanding space itself)..
 
  • #35
Expansion is not the only factor influencing redshift, but is the most dominant factor. There is no other viable explanation for high redshift. If redshift was intrinsic, we should see high redshift objects superimposed over low redshift objects all over the sky. But not a single, incontrovertable observation of such has been found.
 
  • #36
Hey Gold, as has been said time and time again in discussions like these, we simply know far too little to conclude anything with confidence about non-detection!
 
  • #37
Chronos said:
Expansion is not the only factor influencing redshift, but is the most dominant factor. There is no other viable explanation for high redshift. If redshift was intrinsic, we should see high redshift objects superimposed over low redshift objects all over the sky. But not a single, incontrovertable observation of such has been found.
To clarify: There is a relationship between redshift and cosmological distance. The more distant an object, the more it is redshifted. The conventional explanation is that the universe is expanding and therefore all non-gravitationally-bound objects are receding from one another. This may or may not be true. If it is true, it in no way falsifies the concept that some objects have intrinsic redshifts.
 
  • #38
turbo-1 said:
To clarify: There is a relationship between redshift and cosmological distance. The more distant an object, the more it is redshifted. The conventional explanation is that the universe is expanding and therefore all non-gravitationally-bound objects are receding from one another. This may or may not be true. If it is true, it in no way falsifies the concept that some objects have intrinsic redshifts.
and i believe its true, since there is overwhelming observational evidence that the the expansion is accelerating over time...
The 'acceleration' factor (The Cosmological constant) is believed to have become dominant(over gravity) about 7 billion years ATB(afer the bang)..
Further,, Plz visit..
http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~wright/cosmo_constant.html
 
  • #39
Since we have only been sending out radio transmissions for about 100 years, do you guys think if there were a technological civilization let's say 100-200 light years from now they would have heard it?
 
  • #40
Only if they were listening for it, which is hardly a foregone conclusion.
 
  • #41
And plus the transmissions would have to be faster than light...which is quite impossible...right?
 

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