Breakthrough Listen Observations of 1I/'Oumuamua with the GBT

TL;DR

This study used the Green Bank Telescope to search for artificial radio signals from interstellar object 1I/'Oumuamua, finding none and setting upper limits on possible transmitter power.

Contribution

First radio search for artificial signals from 1I/'Oumuamua, establishing constraints on low-power transmitters with no detections.

Findings

No signals detected in the 1.1-11.6 GHz range.

Set upper limits on transmitter power at 0.08 W.

Demonstrated the feasibility of radio searches for interstellar objects.

Abstract

We have conducted a search for radio emission consistent with an artificial source targeting 1I/'Oumuamua with the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT) between 1.1 and 11.6 GHz. We searched the data for narrowband signals and found none. Given the close proximity to this interstellar object, we can place limits to putative transmitters with extremely low power (0.08 W).