Examining the Detectability of Dyson Swarms Surrounding Distant Stars

Abstract:

This research project has its basis in astrophysics and regards the detectability of an oscillating Dyson sphere, or Dyson swarm. The research for this topic was conducted during the Fall 21 semester with Dr. Williams and has continued into the current Spring 22 semester. This project will be presented through a poster presentation and will give visuals to help illustrate the main points of the research that was conducted. During the research period, Dr. Williams and I examined the plausibility of detecting a Dyson swarm around distant stars. We did this by developing several strategies of detection involving a plausible type of Dyson sphere. The type of Dyson sphere was chosen based on previous research done by Dr. Wright at Penn State University Park. He considers different models of Dyson spheres that would be stable in design and energy efficient to maintain. It was decided that a swarm of orbiting satellites would be the best plausible way of harvesting energy from a parent star, so this was the model chosen for our research. Several strategies were developed to determine if this type of Dyson swarm would even be observable with the current means of detection. Each strategy involved calculating a ratio of luminosities between the star and the orbiting Dyson swarm satellites in different spectra and circumstances. The strategies that were developed will be further outlined in the poster presentation. Through examining each strategy, it was found that there was a likely chance for observable detection in the infrared spectrum. With a promising strategy of detection, a visual model was made using a Rebound N-body simulation. The simulation helps to visualize the orbit of the Dyson swarm and shows the ratio of luminosity between the parent star and the orbiting satellites. This proved to be a strong foundation for our continued research in being able to refine our model of a Dyson swarm, as well as to better predict what this type of Dyson swarm would look like from Earth. This poster presentation will showcase the research that has been done up to this semester and will give a direction for our further research on the detectability of a Dyson swarm. The Rebound simulation will also be showcased to provide a visualization of the Dyson swarm and its detectability.