A joint analysis of the Drake equation and the Fermi paradox

Abstract

I propose a unified framework for a joint analysis of the Drake equation and the Fermi paradox, which enables a simultaneous, quantitative study of both of them. The analysis is based on a simplified form of the Drake equation and on a fairly simple scheme for the colonization of the Milky Way. It appears that for sufficiently long-lived civilizations, colonization of the Galaxy is the only reasonable option to gain knowledge about other life forms. This argument allows one to define a region in the parameter space of the Drake equation where the Fermi paradox definitely holds (Strong Fermi paradox).

17 pages, 6 figures, published in International Journal of Astrobiology (Special Issue on the 50 years of the Drake Equation, Eds. F. Raulin and J. P. Rospar). Matches the published version, one figure (Fig. 2) replaced, typos corrected, references added

References in corpus (2)

• Toward a Unification of Star Formation Rate Determinations in the Milky Way and Other Galaxies
• A Stochastic Process Approach of the Drake Equation Parameters

Cited by in corpus (10)

• Terrestrial Planet Occurrence Rates for the Kepler GK Dwarf Sample
• The Case for Technosignatures: Why They May Be Abundant, Long-lived, Highly Detectable, and Unambiguous
• "Grandeur in this view of life": N-body simulation models of the Galactic habitable zone
• A probabilistic analysis of the Fermi paradox in terms of the Drake formula: the role of the L factor
• Strategies and Advice for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence
• SETI reloaded, Next Generation Radio Telescopes, Transients and Cognitive Computing
• The Drake Equation as a Function of Spectral Type and Time
• Demography of galactic technosignatures
• Communicating extraterrestrial intelligence (CETI) interaction models based on the Drake Equation
• The Fermi paradox: Impact of astrophysical processes and dynamical evolution