Broadcast network model of pulsars as beacons of extraterrestrial civilizations

Abstract

AbstractAccording to the Kardashev scale, likely extraterrestrial civilizations above Type-I might use natural energy sources of the Universe, which is also true for transmitting their signals out to distances. A variety of studies have shown that radio pulsars are most likely candidates for this. First, the current study examined how the radio beams of pulsars scan across their environment. Later when the radio beams of pulsars have been modulated, a network model has been proposed on how many habitable planets possible to be home for other assumed advanced civilizations could be reached. It has been found that size of each pulsar's broadcast network depends on the inclination angle. If a civilization controls multiple pulsars, it could comb a considerable fraction of their own celestial sphere and pulsars share their signals in a decentralized fashion as in the mail servers. Moreover, it is briefly cited how beam-modulating mechanisms can be built and searched around pulsars.Highlights •  It has been shown how pulsars would behave like beacons only when they have been used by modulating their radio signals.•  It has also been indicated how each pulsar could constitute an increasingly growing broadcast network by sweeping geometries and in what way it would emerge as number of controlled pulsars increases.•  It has been interpreted how a modulation mechanism could be established and searched under basic physical principles.