Natural and artificial spectral edges in exoplanets. (29th May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lingam, Manasvi; Loeb, Abraham
• Is Part Of: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Volume 470:Number 1(2017:Sep.)
• Page Start: L82
• Page End: L86
• Publication Date: 2017-05-29
• Subjects: extraterrestrial intelligence -- astrobiology -- techniques: photometric -- planets and satellites: general; Astronomy -- Research -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1093/mnrasl/slx084
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1745-3933

Abstract

Abstract: Technological civilizations may rely upon large-scale photovoltaic arrays to harness energy from their host star. Photovoltaic materials, such as silicon, possess distinctive spectral features, including an 'artificial edge' that is characteristically shifted in wavelength shortwards of the 'red edge' of vegetation. Future observations of reflected light from exoplanets would be able to detect both natural and artificial edges photometrically, if a significant fraction of the planet's surface is covered by vegetation or photovoltaic arrays, respectively. The stellar energy thus tapped can be utilized for terraforming activities by transferring heat and light from the day side to the night side on tidally locked exoplanets, thereby producing detectable artefacts.