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Invasion percolation solves Fermi Paradox but challenges SETI projects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 April 2018

E. Galera ,
G. R. Galanti  and
O. Kinouchi Open the ORCID record for O. Kinouchi [Opens in a new window]
E. Galera
Affiliation:
Departamento de Física – FFCLRP, USP, Av. dos Bandeirantes 3900, CEP 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
G. R. Galanti
Affiliation:
Departamento de Física – FFCLRP, USP, Av. dos Bandeirantes 3900, CEP 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
O. Kinouchi*
Affiliation:
Departamento de Física – FFCLRP, USP, Av. dos Bandeirantes 3900, CEP 14040-901, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
*
Author for correspondence: O. Kinouchi, E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Non-homogeneous fractal-like colonization processes, where the cluster of visited sites has large voids and grows slowly, could explain the negative results of Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) preserving the possibility of a galactic spanning civilization. Here we present a generalized invasion percolation model to illustrate a minimal colonization process with large voids and delayed colonization. Spatial correlation between unvisited sites, in the form of large empty regions, suggests that to search civilizations in the Sun neighbourhood may be a misdirected SETI strategy. A weaker form of the Fermi Paradox also suggests this last conclusion.

Keywords

Astrobiologyexoplanetsfermi paradoxinterplanetary colonizationinvasion percolationSETI
Type
Research Article
Information
International Journal of Astrobiology , Volume 18 , Issue 4 , August 2019 , pp. 316 - 322
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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