Galactic exploration by directed Self-Replicating Probes, and its implications for the Fermi paradox

TL;DR

This paper explores a long-term robotic galactic exploration scheme and discusses its implications for the Fermi paradox, analyzing the potential distribution and longevity of extraterrestrial civilizations within the galaxy.

Contribution

It introduces a framework for understanding galactic exploration and civilization longevity, providing new insights into the Fermi paradox and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

Findings

Six regions of galactic civilization parameter space identified

Implications for the likelihood of detecting extraterrestrial civilizations

Discussion of the galactic ecology and civilization lifetimes

Abstract

This paper proposes a long term scheme for robotic exploration of the galaxy,and then considers the implications in terms of the `Fermi paradox' and our search for ETI. We discuss the parameter space of the `galactic ecology' of civilizations in terms of the parameters T (time between ET civilizations arising) and L, the lifetime of these civilizations. Six different regions are described.