scholarly journals The effect of emission lines on the performance of photometric redshift estimation algorithms

Author(s):  
Géza Csörnyei ◽  
László Dobos ◽  
István Csabai

Abstract We investigate the effect of strong emission line galaxies on the performance of empirical photometric redshift estimation methods. In order to artificially control the contribution of photometric error and emission lines to total flux, we develop a PCA-based stochastic mock catalogue generation technique that allows for generating infinite signal-to-noise ratio model spectra with realistic emission lines on top of theoretical stellar continua. Instead of running the computationally expensive stellar population synthesis and nebular emission codes, our algorithm generates realistic spectra with a statistical approach, and – as an alternative to attempting to constrain the priors on input model parameters – works by matching output observational parameters. Hence, it can be used to match the luminosity, colour, emission line and photometric error distribution of any photometric sample with sufficient flux-calibrated spectroscopic follow-up. We test three simple empirical photometric estimation methods and compare the results with and without photometric noise and strong emission lines. While photometric noise clearly dominates the uncertainty of photometric redshift estimates, the key findings are that emission lines play a significant role in resolving colour space degeneracies and good spectroscopic coverage of the entire colour space is necessary to achieve good results with empirical photo-z methods. Template fitting methods, on the other hand, must use a template set with sufficient variation in emission line strengths and ratios, or even better, first estimate the redshift empirically and fit the colours with templates at the best-fit redshift to calculate the K-correction and various physical parameters.

2021 ◽  
Vol 502 (3) ◽  
pp. 3357-3373
Author(s):  
Henry Poetrodjojo ◽  
Brent Groves ◽  
Lisa J Kewley ◽  
Sarah M Sweet ◽  
Sebastian F Sanchez ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT We measure the gas-phase metallicity gradients of 248 galaxies selected from Data Release 2 of the SAMI Galaxy Survey. We demonstrate that there are large systematic discrepancies between the metallicity gradients derived using common strong emission line metallicity diagnostics. We determine which pairs of diagnostics have Spearman’s rank coefficients greater than 0.6 and provide linear conversions to allow the accurate comparison of metallicity gradients derived using different strong emission line diagnostics. For galaxies within the mass range 8.5 < log (M/M⊙) < 11.0, we find discrepancies of up to 0.11 dex/Re between seven popular diagnostics in the metallicity gradient–mass relation. We find a suggestion of a break in the metallicity gradient–mass relation, where the slope shifts from negative to positive, occurs between 9.5 < log (M/M⊙) < 10.5 for the seven chosen diagnostics. Applying our conversions to the metallicity gradient–mass relation, we reduce the maximum dispersion from 0.11 dex/Re to 0.02 dex/Re. These conversions provide the most accurate method of converting metallicity gradients when key emission lines are unavailable. We find that diagnostics that share common sets of emission line ratios agree best, and that diagnostics calibrated through the electron temperature provide more consistent results compared to those calibrated through photoionization models.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S356) ◽  
pp. 12-16
Author(s):  
Silvia Bonoli ◽  
Giorgio Calderone ◽  
Raul Abramo ◽  
Jailson Alcaniz ◽  
Narciso Benitez ◽  
...  

AbstractThe J-PAS survey will soon start observing thousands of square degrees of the Northern Sky with its unique set of 56 narrow band filters covering the entire optical wavelength range, providing, effectively, a low resolution spectra for every object detected. Active galaxies and quasars, thanks to their strong emission lines, can be easily identified and characterized with J-PAS data. A variety of studies can be performed, from IFU-like analysis of local AGN, to clustering of high-z quasars. We also expect to be able to extract intrinsic physical quasar properties from the J-PAS pseudo-spectra, including continuum slope and emission line luminosities. Here we show the first attempts of using the QSFit software package to derive the properties for 22 quasars at 0.8 < z < 2 observed by the miniJPAS survey, the first deg2 of J-PAS data obtained with an interim camera. Results are compared with the ones obtained by applying the same software to SDSS quasar spectra.


1983 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 249-250
Author(s):  
C.J. Butler ◽  
A.D. Andrews ◽  
J.G. Doyle ◽  
P.B. Byrne ◽  
J.L. Linsky ◽  
...  

A coordinated series of ground-based optical and IUE observations of BY Dra variables was undertaken to follow the spectral variation of these stars over one cycle. In the first series 20 LWR and 19 SWP trailed spectra were taken of AU Mic over a three day period 4-6 August 1980 .In Figure 1 we show the mean integrated fluxes for the strong emission lines in the SWP spectra of AU Mic over the observed phase interval of 0.14 to 0.8 together with an approximate V light curve determined by the FES on IUE. From comparison of the emission line intensities and FES magnitudes in Figure 1 several points emerge.


2018 ◽  
Vol 477 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael S Talbot ◽  
Joel R Brownstein ◽  
Adam S Bolton ◽  
Kevin Bundy ◽  
Brett H Andrews ◽  
...  

Abstract We present a catalogue of 38 spectroscopically detected strong galaxy–galaxy gravitational lens candidates identified in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey IV (SDSS-IV). We were able to simulate narrow-band images for eight of them demonstrating evidence of multiple images. Two of our systems are compound lens candidates, each with two background source-planes. One of these compound systems shows clear lensing features in the narrow-band image. Our sample is based on 2812 galaxies observed by the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO (MaNGA) integral field unit (IFU). This Spectroscopic Identification of Lensing Objects (SILO) survey extends the methodology of the Sloan Lens ACS Survey (SLACS) and BOSS Emission-Line Survey (BELLS) to lower redshift and multiple IFU spectra. We searched ∼1.5 million spectra, of which 3065 contained multiple high signal-to-noise ratio background emission-lines or a resolved [O ii] doublet, that are included in this catalogue. Upon manual inspection, we discovered regions with multiple spectra containing background emission-lines at the same redshift, providing evidence of a common source-plane geometry which was not possible in previous SLACS and BELLS discovery programs. We estimate more than half of our candidates have an Einstein radius ≳ 1.7 arcsec, which is significantly greater than seen in SLACS and BELLS. These larger Einstein radii produce more extended images of the background galaxy increasing the probability that a background emission-line will enter one of the IFU spectroscopic fibres, making detection more likely.


1979 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 151-153
Author(s):  
T. D. Kinman

Four methods for finding emission-line galaxies have been compared. Method (a) uses the ultraviolet excess, as found either by filter photography (Haro 1956) or by objective prism spectra (Markarian 1967). glanco (1974) introduced a thin prism with the CTIO Schmidt (1740 Å mm-1 at Hβ) which with IIIa-J plates [Method (b)] gave enough resolution for Smith (1975) and MacAlpine et al. (1977a, 1977b) to detect and classify galaxies by strong emission lines. Following a suggestion by McCarthy that even higher dispersion might be useful, I have used the CTIO Schmidt with [Method (c)] the 4° prism, a GGl+55 filter and IIIa-J emulsion and with [Method (d)] the 10° prism, an RG630 filter and IIIa-F emulsion. These latter give about 400 Å mm-1 at Hβ and Hα respectively which improves the visibility of emission lines against the galaxy continuum so that [0111] 5007 and 4959 and Hβ can be seen on the green plates and Hα and [SII] 6725 can be seen on the red plates.


2018 ◽  
Vol 609 ◽  
pp. A90 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Alp ◽  
B.-O. Demory

Context. Refraction deflects photons that pass through atmospheres, which affects transit light curves. Refraction thus provides an avenue to probe physical properties of exoplanet atmospheres and to constrain the presence of clouds and hazes. In addition, an effective surface can be imposed by refraction, thereby limiting the pressure levels probed by transmission spectroscopy. Aims. The main objective of the paper is to model the effects of refraction on photometric light curves for realistic planets and to explore the dependencies on atmospheric physical parameters. We also explore under which circumstances transmission spectra are significantly affected by refraction. Finally, we search for refraction signatures in photometric residuals in Kepler data. Methods. We use the model of Hui & Seager (2002, ApJ, 572, 540) to compute deflection angles and refraction transit light curves, allowing us to explore the parameter space of atmospheric properties. The observational search is performed by stacking large samples of transit light curves from Kepler. Results. We find that out-of-transit refraction shoulders are the most easily observable features, which can reach peak amplitudes of ~10 parts per million (ppm) for planets around Sun-like stars. More typical amplitudes are a few ppm or less for Jovians and at the sub-ppm level for super-Earths. In-transit, ingress, and egress refraction features are challenging to detect because of the short timescales and degeneracies with other transit model parameters. Interestingly, the signal-to-noise ratio of any refraction residuals for planets orbiting Sun-like hosts are expected to be similar for planets orbiting red dwarfs and ultra-cool stars. We also find that the maximum depth probed by transmission spectroscopy is not limited by refraction for weakly lensing planets, but that the incidence of refraction can vary significantly for strongly lensing planets. We find no signs of refraction features in the stacked Kepler light curves, which is in agreement with our model predictions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S359) ◽  
pp. 438-440
Author(s):  
Augusto Lassen ◽  
Rogério Riffel ◽  
Ana L. Chies-Santos ◽  
Evelyn Johnston ◽  
Boris Haeussler ◽  
...  

AbstractWe serendipitously found an intriguing Extended Emission Line Region (EELR) near the quiescent and massive early-type Mrk 1172, with a projected extension of approximately 14 × 14 kpc. Its irregular shape, high gas content, strong emission lines and proximity to an isolated possible faded quasar raise questions about the ionization of this gas and the nature of this object. Analyzing the stellar population in both objects we observe that the EELR has a dominance of young-intermediate and intermediate stellar populations (200 Myr < t < 1 Gyr) with significant star formation activity, while Mrk 1172 is dominated by old stellar population (t > 5 Gyr). BPT diagnostic diagrams indicate that the gas in the EELR is photoionized by hot massive stars rather than by a hard radiation field or by shocks. Further analysis on abundances of the gas and its kinematics shall be performed to better comprehend the nature of this object and how it is interacting with Mrk 1172.


Author(s):  
Ryoma Murata ◽  
Masamune Oguri ◽  
Takahiro Nishimichi ◽  
Masahiro Takada ◽  
Rachel Mandelbaum ◽  
...  

Abstract Constraining the relation between the richness N and the halo mass M over a wide redshift range for optically selected clusters is a key ingredient for cluster-related science in optical surveys, including the Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) survey. We measure stacked weak-lensing profiles around 1747 HSC CAMIRA clusters over a redshift range of 0.1 ≤ zcl ≤ 1.0 with N ≥ 15 using the HSC first-year shear catalog covering ∼140 deg2. The exquisite depth and image quality of the HSC survey allow us to measure lensing signals around high-redshift clusters at 0.7 ≤ zcl ≤ 1.0 with a signal-to-noise ratio of 19 within the comoving radius range $0.5\lesssim R\lesssim 15\, h^{-1}\:{\rm Mpc}$. We constrain the richness–mass relations P(ln N ∣ M, z) of HSC CAMIRA clusters assuming a log-normal distribution without informative priors on model parameters, by jointly fitting to the lensing profiles and abundance measurements under both Planck and WMAP cosmological models. We show that our model gives acceptable p-values when we add redshift-dependent terms proportional to ln (1 + z) and [ln (1 + z)]2 in the mean and scatter relations of P(ln N ∣ M, z). Such terms presumably originate from the variation of photometric redshift errors as a function of redshift. We show that constraints on the mean relation 〈M ∣ N〉 are consistent between the Planck and WMAP models, whereas the scatter values σln M ∣ N for the Planck model are systematically larger than those for the WMAP model. We also show that the scatter values for the Planck model increase toward lower richness values, whereas those for the WMAP model are consistent with constant values as a function of richness. This result highlights the importance of the scatter in the mass–richness relation for cluster cosmology.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S356) ◽  
pp. 351-354
Author(s):  
Shimeles Terefe ◽  
Ascensión del Olmo ◽  
Paola Marziani ◽  
Mirjana Pović

AbstractRecent work has shown that it is possible to systematize quasars (QSOs) spectral diversity in 4DE1 parameter space. The spectra contained in most of the surveys have low signal to noise ratio which fed the impression that all QSO’s are spectroscopically similar. Exploration of 4DE1 parameter space gave rise to the concept of two populations of QSOs that present important spectroscopic differences. We aim to quantify broad emission line differences between radio quiet and radio loud sources by exploiting more complete samples of QSO with spectral coverage in Hβ, MgII and CIV emission lines. We used a high redshift sample (0.35 < z < 1) of strong radio emitter QSOs observations from Calar Alto Observatory in Spain.


1988 ◽  
Vol 103 ◽  
pp. 205-207
Author(s):  
C.C. Huang ◽  
Y.F. Chen ◽  
L. Chen

After a long quiet phase AG Dra underwent an outstandingly active phase with two outbursts in 1980 Nov. and 1981 Nov.(Viotti et al, 1984). Since then a new quiet phase has followed. In this work we analyse two spectra of AG Dra, of which, one was taken in 1981 by C.C. Huang at the Haute-Provence Observatory using the Marly spectrograph with a dispersion of 80 A/mm at the 1.2 m telescope, the other was obtained by Dr Y.Andrillat in 1985 with the same instrument.Figure 1 shows the spectral variations of AG Dra between 1981 and 1985. The main features of the emission line spectrum are not much different between the two spectra, except that in 1985 there was a new wide weak emission line at 3488 A possibly due to FeII. There were a lot of strong emission lines due to H, HeI, HeII and 0III in both spectra. The spectrum of the late-type component was much more obvious in 1985 than in 1981. In 1985 the lines of CaII K, CaIλ4227 and the G-band of CH were quite strong. In addition we measured a lot of absorption lines due to FeI, SrII and TiII on the 1985 plate. The Balmer continuum emission and the blue contiuum were enhanced in 1981. On the 1981 plate the stellar spectrum in ultraviolet can be traced beyond 3200 A and the blue continuum heavily veiled the spectrum of the cool component. In 1985 they were much weaker.


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