Infrared and Optical Detectability of Dyson Spheres at White Dwarf Stars

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential to detect advanced civilizations' Dyson spheres around white dwarf stars using infrared and optical satellite data, aiming to constrain their frequency in our galaxy.

Contribution

It introduces a method to observationally constrain the prevalence of Dyson spheres around white dwarfs using existing satellite data and reasonable assumptions.

Findings

Potential detection signatures identified in infrared and optical data.

Constraints on the frequency of Dyson spheres in the Milky Way.

Method demonstrates how current satellite data can inform about advanced civilizations.

Abstract

It has been hypothesized that advanced technological civilizations will construct giant space colonies and supporting infrastructures to orbit about their home stars. With data from recent satellites that operate at infrared and optical wavelengths (Spitzer, WISE, TESS, Kepler), in company with a few modest assumptions, it is now possible to begin to constrain observationally the frequency of such space-based civilizations in our Milky Way Galaxy.