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On the nature of Dyson Sphere candidates uncovered by Project Hephaistos
Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Science and Technology, Physics, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Observational Astrophysics.
2026 (English)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
Abstract [en]

Project Hephaistos recently reported the discovery of seven possible Dyson Sphere candidates. However, these were afterward suspected of being contaminated by a rare type of galaxy: hot, dust-obscured galaxies (Hot DOGs). A preliminary analysis of two of these candidates, D and E, showed that their infrared spectra were significantly redshifted. Objects of extragalactic distance are therefore confirmed to be contaminating these candidates. In this report, James Webb Space Telescope spectroscopy data was analyzed to determine the nature of the contamination. The data was background-subtracted, and the spectra subsequently extracted. Synthetic photometry was performed to verify the accuracy of the extraction. Spectral lines were identified by a signal-to-noise ratio > 3 , and their metrics extracted. The galaxies were placed on a diagram plotting the 6.2 µm polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) feature against the strength of the 9.8 µm amorphous silicate feature. The continuum constituents were determined with the CAFE-package,and the properties of the fine-structure lines and the continuum profiles were analyzed. From these results, it was concluded that the galaxy of candidate D has features consistent with Hot DOGs: a steeply rising continuum towards longer wavelengths, a dominant warm dust component, moderate silicate absorption,and weak PAH features. In contrast, the galaxy of candidate E is more compatible with another class called bump DOGs, with a weak silicate absorption and strong PAH features. The contamination of these galaxies provides important information for future Dyson Sphere searches.

Abstract [sv]

Nyligen föreslog Projekt Hephaistos sju Dysonsfärkandidater. I efterhand misstänktes det dock att dessa var kontaminerade av en sällsynt typ av galax: hot, dust-obscured galaxies (Hot DOGs). En preliminär analys av två av kandidaterna, D och E, visade att deras infraröda spektra var märkbart rödförskjutna. Det är därför bekräftat att objekt på extragalaktiska avstånd kontaminerar kandidaterna. I denna rapport analyseras spektroskopisk data från James Webb Space Telescope för att fastställa källan till kontamineringen. Datan bakgrundssubtraherades och spektrumen extraherades därefter. Syntetisk fotometri användes sedan för att fastställa att extraktionen blivit korrekt. Spektrallinjer identifierades genom ett signal-brusförhållande > 3, och deras egenskaper extraherades därefter. Galaxerna placerades på ett diagram där 6.2 µm polycykliskaaromatiska kolväte-bandet (PAH) visades mot styrkan av det amorfa silikat-bandet vid 9.8 µm. Beståndsdelarna av deras kontinua avgjordes med CAFE-programmet, och egenskaperna för deras finstrukturlinjer och kontinuumstrukturer analyserade. Från dessa resultat var slutsatsen att kandidat D:s galax har drag som är överrenstämmande med Hot DOGs: ett brant ökande kontinuum mot längre våglängder, en dominant varm stoftkomponent, måttlig silikatabsorption och svaga PAH-band. I kontrast till detta, är kandidat E:s galax mer förenlig med en annan kategori kallad bump DOGs, med en svag silikatabsorption och starka PAH-band. Kontamineringen av dessa galaxer ger viktig information för framtida sökanden efter Dysonsfärer.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2026. , p. 26
Series
FYSAST ; FYSKAND1236
Keywords [en]
Extraterrestrial intelligence, Dyson spheres, Mid-infrared spectroscopy, Synthetic photometry, Hot DOGs
National Category
Astronomy, Astrophysics and Cosmology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-593554OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-593554DiVA, id: diva2:2083656
Educational program
Bachelor Programme in Physics
Supervisors
Examiners
Available from: 2026-07-03 Created: 2026-07-02 Last updated: 2026-07-03Bibliographically approved

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CiteExportLink to record
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