Panoramic optical and near-infrared SETI instrument: optical and structural design concepts
arXiv:1808.05773 · doi:10.1117/12.2314444
Abstract
We propose a novel instrument design to greatly expand the current optical and near-infrared SETI search parameter space by monitoring the entire observable sky during all observable time. This instrument is aimed to search for technosignatures by means of detecting nano- to micro-second light pulses that could have been emitted, for instance, for the purpose of interstellar communications or energy transfer. We present an instrument conceptual design based upon an assembly of 198 refracting 0.5-m telescopes tessellating two geodesic domes. This design produces a regular layout of hexagonal collecting apertures that optimizes the instrument footprint, aperture diameter, instrument sensitivity and total field-of-view coverage. We also present the optical performance of some Fresnel lenses envisaged to develop a dedicated panoramic SETI (PANOSETI) observatory that will dramatically increase sky-area searched (pi steradians per dome), wavelength range covered, number of stellar systems observed, interstellar space examined and duration of time monitored with respect to previous optical and near-infrared technosignature finders.
arXiv comment14 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables
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Cited by in corpus (5)
- The Vanishing & Appearing Sources during a Century of Observations project: I. USNO objects missing in modern sky surveys and follow-up observations of a "missing star"
- Panoramic optical and near-infrared SETI instrument: overall specifications and science program
- Panoramic optical and near-infrared SETI instrument: prototype design and testing
- Panoramic SETI: Program Update and High-Energy Astrophysics Applications
- Panoramic SETI: overall mechanical system design