The motivation and frequency of interstellar migrations: A possible answer to Fermi’s Paradox

£5.00

G. L. Matloff (2019), JBIS72, pp.181-185

Refcode: 2019.72.181

Abstract:
Human space exploration and exoplanet discoveries raise Fermi’s Paradox (“Where is Everybody?”) to new heights. The author suggests that technologically advanced interstellar civilizations might defer interstellar migration until their host stars enter the post-main-sequence ~108-year subgiant phase. Increased stellar luminosity will then enhance the performance of solar-photon-sail spacecraft. A scenario is presented for a 109-kg generation ship propelled by a graphene sail. The best destination for such a migration is a widely separated giant-dwarf binary. The giant would be used for deceleration; the vicinity of the dwarf would be colonized. At least one such system would likely closely approach the host star during its subgiant phase.