SearchLites - Vol 13 No 4

Magazine Overview

SearchLites, Vol. 13 No. 4, Autumn 2007, is the quarterly newsletter of The SETI League, Inc. This issue features an article on the impact of ITAR regulations on SETI, a tribute to Professor Ronald N. Bracewell, an editorial on frequency measurement, and listings of upcoming events and publications.

ITAR Attacks!

In his article "ITAR Attacks!", H. Paul Shuch, Executive Director Emeritus of The SETI League, Inc., discusses how US International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) hinder international cooperation in SETI research. Shuch explains that ITAR, intended to prevent weapons proliferation, has been extended to restrict the export of information and hardware that could be used in weapons systems, including components for radio telescopes. This broad definition complicates efforts to train international members, collaborate with overseas institutions, and even share designs for SETI stations. He notes that this can force researchers to use older, less efficient technologies and that ITAR restrictions may conflict with international law, such as the UN Space Treaty. Shuch concludes with a metaphorical statement: "Yes, our radio telescopes are weapons. We use them to fight ignorance. Unfortunately, sometimes ignorance fights back."

Remembering: Prof. Ronald N. Bracewell

This section is a tribute to Professor Ronald N. Bracewell, a significant figure in radio astronomy and SETI, who passed away on August 13, 2007. Bracewell was a Professor of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University and had a distinguished career that included work as a radar engineer during World War II and research at CSIRO in Australia. He co-authored "Radio Astronomy" and wrote "The Galactic Club: Intelligent Life in Outer Space." His concept of "Bracewell Probes" for interstellar exploration is well-known. The article highlights his collaboration with Govind Swarup on an innovative spectroheliograph at Stanford, which inspired The SETI League's Very Small Array (VSA) project. Bracewell also had a strong interest in Optical SETI and made contributions to image processing algorithms used by SETI League members.

How Accurate Must We Be?

Richard Factor, President of The SETI League, writes an editorial discussing the "Frequency Measuring Test" (FMT) sponsored by the ARRL. He explains the contest, where participants measure the precise frequencies transmitted by W1AW, and highlights the technical challenges involved, such as signal identification and measurement accuracy. Factor shares his personal experience with the FMT, noting his own high accuracy (better than 0.1 PPM) and how he believes he helped disprove the ARRL's initial assertion that accuracies greater than 1 PPM were impossible. He then relates this to SETI work, explaining that even small frequency uncertainties can affect the acquisition of signals in the 1420 MHz hydrogen line band, though the wide bins used in digital signal processing might mitigate this issue.

Event Horizon

This section lists upcoming conferences and meetings relevant to SETI and amateur radio enthusiasts. Events include the World Science Fiction Convention in Yokohama, Japan; the International Astronautical Congress in Hyderabad, India; and various VHF and amateur radio conferences across the US and internationally, spanning from August 2007 to October 2009.

Publications Department: Proceedings of the 2007 Conference of the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers

This announcement details the availability of the "Proceedings of the 2007 Conference of the Society of Amateur Radio Astronomers," hosted by SARA, a SETI League Affiliate Society. The proceedings, published by the ARRL, contain papers on radio astronomy hardware, software, education, and research strategies, with contributions from SETI League members. The Table of Contents lists various topics, including interstellar dust, chemistry, radio astronomy techniques, and gamma ray bursters. The proceedings can be obtained for a suggested contribution of $20 (US) or $25 (elsewhere).

Featured Song: Rollback

This section features the lyrics to a song titled "Rollback," inspired by a novel by Rob Sawyer, with lyrics by H. Paul Shuch and set to the tune of "Rolling Down on Old Maui." The song tells a story about a character named Sarah who receives an encrypted message from aliens and the implications of a technology that could reverse aging.

SETI League Director Emeritus Honored by Astronautics Academy

This news item reports that H. Paul Shuch has been elected to Full Membership in the prestigious International Academy of Astronautics (IAA). Shuch, who heads the SETI League, is recognized for his contributions to astronautics and SETI. The IAA is an international scientific institution devoted to fostering astronautics. Shuch's election is seen as an indicator of the growing acceptance of SETI research within the mainstream scientific community.

Ask Dr. SETI: Relativistic Mass

In this Q&A segment, "Dr. SETI" addresses a student's question about whether photons have mass. The response explains Einstein's apparent contradiction between defining photons as massless and the concept of mass-energy equivalency. It introduces the concept of relativistic mass, explaining that while photons are massless when stationary, they acquire mass when moving at the speed of light. The article derives the formula for relativistic mass using Planck's Law and Einstein's mass-energy equation, calculating the relativistic mass of a hydrogen line photon.

Annual Renewal: Is This Your Last SearchLites?

This section is a membership renewal notice for The SETI League. It provides information on membership categories, dues, and premiums available for purchase, such as pocket protectors, mouse pads, and conference proceedings. It also includes a form for members to update their contact information and renew their subscriptions.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of SearchLites include the challenges and importance of international cooperation in scientific research, particularly in the field of SETI, and the role of amateur radio in scientific endeavors. The magazine consistently advocates for the pursuit of SETI research, emphasizing its educational and scientific value, and highlights the contributions of individuals and organizations within the amateur astronomy and radio communities. The editorial stance is one of promoting scientific inquiry, overcoming bureaucratic obstacles, and fostering a global community dedicated to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.