{"title":"Von Neumann probes: rationale, propulsion, interstellar transfer timing","authors":"G. Matloff","doi":"10.1017/S1473550422000027","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"Abstract A Von Neumann probe is a self-reproducing intelligent device with interstellar capabilities. A space-faring civilization could conceivably use such constructs to occupy much or all of the Milky Way galaxy and perhaps the entire universe. This paper presents several reasons that a civilization might decide to produce and deploy Von Neumann probes. Physically possible interstellar propulsion methods for such devices are discussed, as is a launch strategy minimizing the duration of an interstellar transfer. Various solar system locations could be investigated to determine whether Von Neumann probes are present in our vicinity.","PeriodicalId":13879,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Astrobiology","volume":"21 1","pages":"205 - 211"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7000,"publicationDate":"2022-02-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"3","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"International Journal of Astrobiology","FirstCategoryId":"101","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1017/S1473550422000027","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"物理与天体物理","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 3
Abstract
Abstract A Von Neumann probe is a self-reproducing intelligent device with interstellar capabilities. A space-faring civilization could conceivably use such constructs to occupy much or all of the Milky Way galaxy and perhaps the entire universe. This paper presents several reasons that a civilization might decide to produce and deploy Von Neumann probes. Physically possible interstellar propulsion methods for such devices are discussed, as is a launch strategy minimizing the duration of an interstellar transfer. Various solar system locations could be investigated to determine whether Von Neumann probes are present in our vicinity.
期刊介绍:
International Journal of Astrobiology is the peer-reviewed forum for practitioners in this exciting interdisciplinary field. Coverage includes cosmic prebiotic chemistry, planetary evolution, the search for planetary systems and habitable zones, extremophile biology and experimental simulation of extraterrestrial environments, Mars as an abode of life, life detection in our solar system and beyond, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, the history of the science of astrobiology, as well as societal and educational aspects of astrobiology. Occasionally an issue of the journal is devoted to the keynote plenary research papers from an international meeting. A notable feature of the journal is the global distribution of its authors.