A Search for Optical Laser Emission from Proxima Centauri

Abstract

A search for laser light from Proxima Centauri was performed, including 107 high-resolution, optical spectra obtained between 2004 and 2019. Among them, 57 spectra contain multiple, confined spectral combs, each consisting of 10 closely-spaced frequencies of light. The spectral combs, as entities, are themselves equally spaced with a frequency separation of 5800 GHz, rendering them unambiguously technological in origin. However, the combs do not originate at Proxima Centauri. Otherwise, the 107 spectra of Proxima Centauri show no evidence of technological signals, including 29 observations between March and July 2019 when the candidate technological radio signal, BLC1, was captured by Breakthrough Listen. This search would have revealed lasers pointed toward Earth having a power of 20 to 120 kilowatts and located within the 1.3au field of view centered on Proxima Centauri, assuming a benchmark laser launcher having a 10-meter aperture.

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Cited by in corpus (5)

• A radio technosignature search towards Proxima Centauri resulting in a signal-of-interest
• Exploring nine simultaneously occurring transients on April 12th 1950
• A Search for Monochromatic Light Toward the Galactic Centre
• Search for Transient, Monochromatic Light from the Galactic Plane
• Laser Communication with Proxima and Alpha Centauri using the Solar Gravitational Lens