多任务Lasso回归法在恒星光谱物理参量估计中的应用

多任务学习方法在机器学习、计算机视觉、人工智能领域已得到广泛关注,利用任务间的相关性,将多个任务同时学习的效果优于每个任务单独学习的情况.采用多任务Lasso回归法(Multi-task Lasso Regression)用于恒星光谱物理参量的估计,不仅可以获取不同物理参量间的共同的特征信息,而且也可以很好地保留不同物理参量的特有的补充信息.使用恒星大气模拟模型合成光谱库ELODIE中的光谱数据和美国大型巡天项目Sloan发布的SDSS实测光谱数据进行实验,模型估算精度优于相关文献中的方法,特别是对重力加速度(lg g)和化学丰度([Fe/H])的估计.实验中通过改变光谱的分辨率,施加不同信噪比(SNR)的噪声,来说明模型的稳定性强.结果表明,模型精度受光谱分辨率和噪声的影响,但噪声对其影响更大,可见,多任务Lasso回归法不仅操作简便,稳定性强,而且也提高了模型的整体预测精度.     

Peak asymmetry of solar p modes: a framework to explain the effects of the correlated noise from the acoustic source

It is well known that in the power spectrum solar p modes have asymmetric profiles, which depart from a Lorentzian shape. We present a framework to explain the contribution of correlated background noise, from the acoustic source, to this asymmetry. An important prediction is that observed peak asymmetry may differ depending on the way the p-mode observations are made, and on how the data are prepared. Furthermore, if valid, the proposed framework may provide the basis for separating the contribution of the correlated noise from that of the source location and properties.     

Astronomical time-series analysis – III. The role of the observational errors in the minimum entropy method

In two recent papers a new method for searching for periodicity in time series was introduced. It takes advantage of the Shannon entropy to compute the amount of information contained in the light curve of a given signal as a function of a supposed period p . The basic result is that, if the signal is T -periodic, the entropy is then minimum when p T . Also, there is theoretical and numerical evidence that the minimum entropy method is more sensitive to the presence of periodicity and has a higher resolution power than other classical techniques. In the present work the discussion is focused on the way in which the observational errors have to be included in the method. The application of the resulting modified algorithm to real data and a performance comparison with the former algorithm are presented. The dependence of both periodograms on the size of the partition is also investigated. Analytical estimates are given only for the limiting case of small errors. The numerical results show that the new algorithm leads to a smoother periodogram and provides a higher significance for the minimum than the former algorithm.     

Principal components in active galactic nuclei variability data and the estimation of the flux contributions from different components

It has been found that the near-infrared flux variations of Seyfert galaxies satisfy relations of the form   F_i ≈α _{i j} +β _{i j} F_j   , where F_i , F_j are the fluxes in filters i and j ; and  α _{i , j} , β _{i , j}   are constants. These relations have been used to estimate the constant contributions of the non-variable underlying galaxies. The paper attempts a formal treatment of the estimation procedure, allowing for the possible presence of a third component, namely non-variable hot dust. In an analysis of a sample of 38 Seyfert galaxies, inclusion of the hot dust component improves the model fit in approximately half the cases. All derived dust temperatures are below 300 K, in the range 540–860 K or above 1300 K. A noteworthy feature is the estimation of confidence intervals for the component contributions: this is achieved by bootstrapping. It is also pointed out that the model implies that such data could be fruitfully analysed in terms of principal components.     

A new method for determining the sensitivity of X-ray imaging observations and the X-ray number counts

We present a new method for determining the sensitivity of X-ray imaging observations, which correctly accounts for the observational biases that affect the probability of detecting a source of a given X-ray flux, without the need to perform a large number of time-consuming simulations. We use this new technique to estimate the X-ray source counts in different spectral bands (0.5–2, 0.5–10, 2–10 and 5–10 keV) by combining deep pencil-beam and shallow wide-area Chandra observations. The sample has a total of 6295 unique sources over an area of  11.8 deg²  and is the largest used to date to determine the X-ray number counts. We determine, for the first time, the break flux in the 5–10 keV band, in the case of a double power-law source count distribution. We also find an upturn in the 0.5–2 keV counts at fluxes below about  6 × 10⁻¹⁷ erg s⁻¹ cm⁻²  . We show that this can be explained by the emergence of normal star-forming galaxies which dominate the X-ray population at faint fluxes. The fraction of the diffuse X-ray background resolved into point sources at different spectral bands is also estimated. It is argued that a single population of Compton thick active galactic nuclei (AGN) cannot be responsible for the entire unresolved X-ray background in the energy range 2–10 keV.     

Tracing the nature of dark energy with galaxy distribution

Dynamical dark energy (DE) is a viable alternative to the cosmological constant. Constructing tests to discriminate between Λ and dynamical DE models is difficult, however, because the differences are not large. In this paper we explore tests based on the galaxy mass function, the void probability function (VPF), and the number of galaxy clusters. At high z , the number density of clusters shows large differences between DE models, but geometrical factors reduce the differences substantially. We find that detecting a model dependence in the cluster redshift distribution is a significant challenge. We show that the galaxy redshift distribution is potentially a more sensitive characteristic. We do this by populating dark matter haloes in N -body simulations with galaxies using well-tested halo occupation distributions. We also estimate the VPF and find that samples with the same angular surface density of galaxies, in different models, exhibition almost model-independent VPF which therefore cannot be used as a test for DE. Once again, geometry and cosmic evolution compensate each other. By comparing VPFs for samples with fixed galaxy mass limits, we find measurable differences.     

Significance of periodogram peaks and a pulsation mode analysis of the Beta Cephei star V403 Car

We discuss some commonly used methods for determining the significance of peaks in the periodograms of time series. We review methods for constructing the classical significance tests, their corresponding false alarm probability functions and the role played in these by independent random variables and by empirical and theoretical cumulative distribution functions. We discuss the concepts of independent frequencies and oversampling in periodogram analysis. We then compare the results of new Monte Carlo simulations for evenly spaced time series with results obtained previously by other authors, and present the results of Monte Carlo simulations for a specific unevenly spaced time series obtained for V403 Car.     

Testing the bivariate series of Mira light curve rise and fall times for changes

The American Association of Variable Star Observers supplies the astronomical community with a large data base of times of light maxima and minima of Mira (long-period pulsating) stars. Period change studies using these data invariably use either times between maxima, or those between minima. A statistical analysis based on the two-component time series of light curve rise and fall times is developed. The results, which enable one to detect changes in the shapes of light curves, are applied to observations of seven long-period variables.     

Integrating VOEvent into the ground‐based O/IR system: A case study at NOAO

In this article we describe a case study of how NOAO is considering improving its management of Target‐of‐Opportunity (ToO) observations by integrating VOEvent into the flow of activities. We believe that using VOEvent to help document and track the use of ToO time will improve the user experience of ToOs at NOAO. It will also greatly aid in the management of the process and of the resulting data, allowing us to better track the ownership and provenance of the data and any resulting data products. Finally, it will provide an important method of archival access to the data and data “collections,” which might include not only processed data from a single VOEvent triggered observation but could also include multiple observations traceable to a single (or set of related) VOEvents. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

射电脉冲星周期跃变研究的进展

射电脉冲星周期跃变被认为是研究中子星内部结构和状态的极好探针。脉冲星高频巡天发现了一批年青脉冲星,脉冲星周期跃变的观测研究也有了飞快进展。至少发现了２５颗有跃变现象的脉冲星（简称跃变脉冲星）和７６次跃变事件。ＰＳＲＪ０８３５－４５１０是目前已有跃变脉冲星活动参数最高的,ＰＳＲＪ１３４１－６２２２０的跃变活动最频繁,而ＰＳＲＪ１６１４－５０４７在１９９５年发生的跃变是规模最大的,不同脉冲星的跃变事件     

New periodic variables from the Hipparcos epoch photometry

Two selection statistics are used to extract new candidate periodic variables from the epoch photometry of the Hipparcos catalogue. The primary selection criterion is a signal-to-noise ratio. The dependence of this statistic on the number of observations is calibrated using about 30 000 randomly permuted Hipparcos data sets. A significance level of 0.1 per cent is used to extract a first batch of candidate variables. The second criterion requires that the optimal frequency be unaffected if the data are de-trended by low-order polynomials. We find 2675 new candidate periodic variables, of which the majority (2082) are from the Hipparcos 'unsolved' variables. Potential problems with the interpretation of the data (e.g. aliasing) are discussed.     

Detection of transient high frequency optical oscillations of the flare star YZ CMin

In this paper we present the results of the analysis of the B ‐light curve for the flares of the red dwarf YZ CMin (dM4.5e), which were observed on February of 2002, with the help of the 30‐inch Cassegrain telescope of the Stephanion Observatory, Greece. Discrete Fourier Transform analysis and the use of the Brownian Walk noise enable us to estimate the proper random noise and detect possible weak transient optical oscillations. Our results indicate that: (1) Transient high frequency oscillations occur during the flare event and during the quiet‐star phase as well. (2) The observed frequencies range between 0.0083 Hz (period 2 min) and 0.3 Hz (period 3 s) is not rigorously bounded. The phenomenon is most pronounced during the flare state. (3) During the flare state: (a) Oscillations with period 2 to 1.5 min, 60 s, 11 s, 7.5 s, and 4 s appear around the maximum light state and persist during the whole flare state, (b) from the flare maximum phase on, a progressive increase of oscillations with periods 30 s, 20 s down to 4.0 s is markedly indicated, and (c) at the end of the flare only the oscillation of the pre‐flare state do remain. Our observations are consistent with the phenomenology of impulsively exited oscillations on a coronal magnetic loop and subsequent chromospheric heating by electronic flux at the foot of the loop or/and by soft X‐ray coronal emission. Our observation give evidence that more than one impulsive events may occur in the course of an observed flare (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)