Floaters on the Surfaces of Red Dwarfs

Abstract The tidal disruption of a rocky planet by a red dwarf results in a stream of molten rock, with half the material eventually landing on the surface of the star. Since the mean density of a ∼0.1 M ⊙ star is ∼10 2 g cm −3 , the rocky debris with a density of ∼3 g cm −3 would lead to lava rivers or lakes floating on the surface of the red dwarf. These would be observable as stellar spots, owing to their high opacity. Advanced technological civilizations could design ships that float on the surface of red dwarfs and constitute a new type of technological signatures.