The power of low‐resolution spectroscopy: On the spectral classification of planet candidates in the ground‐based CoRoT follow‐up

Planetary transits detected by the CoRoT mission can be mimicked by a low‐mass star in orbit around a giant star. Spectral classification helps to identify the giant stars and also early‐type stars which are often excluded from further follow‐up. We study the potential and the limitations of low‐resolution spectroscopy to improve the photometric spectral types of CoRoT candidates. In particular, we want to study the influence of the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) of the target spectrum in a quantitative way. We built an own template library and investigate whether a template library from the literature is able to reproduce the classifications. Including previous photometric estimates, we show how the additional spectroscopic information improves the constraints on spectral type. Low‐resolution spectroscopy (R ≈ 1000) of 42 CoRoT targets covering a wide range in SNR (1–437) and of 149 templates was obtained in 2012–2013 with the Nasmyth spectrograph at the Tautenburg 2 m telescope. Spectral types have been derived automatically by comparing with the observed template spectra. The classification has been repeated with the external CFLIB library. The spectral class obtained with the external library agrees within a few sub‐classes when the target spectrum has a SNR of about 100 at least. While the photometric spectral type can deviate by an entire spectral class, the photometric luminosity classification is as close as a spectroscopic classification with the external library. A low SNR of the target spectrum limits the attainable accuracy of classification more strongly than the use of external templates or photometry. Furthermore we found that low‐resolution reconnaissance spectroscopy ensures that good planet candidates are kept that would otherwise be discarded based on photometric spectral type alone. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Two-colour photometric selection of high-redshift galaxies

In this paper we describe a set of models to predict the colours of galaxies over a wide range of redshifts. We present examples of output from the simulations, and discuss their application to the selection of galaxies at high redshifts, particularly through identification of the Lyman break. Additionally we consider the optimal choices of filters for selection at a range of redshifts.
An interface to a subset of the simulations has been made available on the World Wide Web for the benefit of the community at the location http://www-astro.physics.ox.ac.uk/~rejs/research/galcols.html/     

Uncertainties of Synthetic Population Models

This paper investigates the uncertainties in the synthetic integrated colours of simple stellar populations, currently the most popular method of estimating the ages of unresolved stellar systems. Three types of uncertainties studied here originate from the stellar models, the population synthesis techniques, and from the stellar spectral libraries. Despite some skepticism, synthetic colours appear to be reliable age indicators as long as they are used for select age ranges. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Restrictions to the galaxy evolutionary models from the Hawaiian Deep Fields SSA13 and SSA22

Quantitative structural analysis of the galaxies present in the Hawaiian Deep Fields SSA13 and SSA22 is reported. The structural parameters of the galaxies have been obtained automatically by fitting a two-component model (Sérsic r ^{1/ n} bulge and exponential disc) to the surface brightness of the galaxies. The galaxies were classified on the basis of the bulge-to-total luminosity ratio  ( B / T )  . The magnitude selection criteria and the reliability of our method have been checked by using Monte Carlo simulations. A complete sample of objects up to redshift 0.8 has been achieved. Spheroidal objects (E/S0) represent ≈33 per cent and spirals ≈41 per cent of the total number of galaxies, while mergers and unclassified objects represent ≈26 per cent. We have computed the comoving space density of the different kinds of object. In an Einstein–de Sitter universe, a decrease in the comoving density of E/S0 galaxies is observed as redshift increases (≈30 per cent less at   z =0.8)  , while for spiral galaxies a relatively quiet evolution is reported. The framework of hierarchical clustering evolution models of galaxies seems to be the most appropriate to explain our results.     

The scatter in the near-infrared colour–magnitude relation in spiral galaxies

We have determined a dust-free colour–magnitude (CM) relation for spiral galaxies, by using I  −  K colours in edge-on galaxies above the plane. We find that the scatter in this relation is small and approximately as large as can be explained by observational uncertainties. The slope of the near-IR CM relation is steeper for spirals than for elliptical galaxies. We suggest two possible explanations. First, the difference could be caused by vertical colour gradients in spiral galaxies. In that case these gradients should be similar for all galaxies, on average ∼0.15 dex in [Fe/H] per scaleheight, and should increase for later galaxy types. The most likely explanation, however, is that spirals and ellipticals have intrinsically different CM relations. This means that the stars in spirals are younger than those in ellipticals. The age, however, or the fraction of young stars in spiral galaxies would be determined solely by the luminosity of the galaxy, and not by its environment.     

类星体3C273的近红外光变性质

收集了类星体3C273的近红外资料,许由此讨论了该天体的光变性质.我们发现3C273的最大红外光变分别为△J=1.0m,△H=0.90m,△K=0.82m,而平均色指数分别为     

OH megamaser的光度和它们的宿主星系的红外光度之间的相关关系

利用66个OH megamaser的光度和它们的宿主星系的红外光度之间的相关关系,得到log L(OH)=1.71log L(IR)-17.67,即L(OH)α[L(IR)]1。71.这个结果介于Baan所得到的L(OH)α[L(IR)]2和Kandalian所得到的L(OH)α[L(IR)]1.38的结果之间.由于统计时所取的样本数最多,因此结果更能反映实际情况.进一步,可把这66个OH megamaser分为两类;第一类为L(OH)<102L(?)的小光度OH megamaser,小光度OH megamaser包含了14个OH megamaser;第二类为L(OH)≥102L的大光度OH megamaser,大光度OH megamaser包含了52个OHmegamaser.研究结果表明,小光度OH megamaser的光度和它们的宿主星系的红外光度之间相关关系为L(OH)α[L(IR)]1.43,与Kandalia所得到的结果相接近.大光度OH megamaser的光度和它们的宿主星系的红外光度之间的相关关系为L(OH)α[L(IR)]2,与Baan所得到的结果相一致.     

New insights into the photometric structure of Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies from a deep Near-Infrared study

We present deep Near-Infrared (NIR) imaging of Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies (BCDs), allowing for the first time to derive and systematize the NIR structural properties of their stellar low-surface brightness (LSB) host galaxies. Compared to optical data, NIR images, being less contamined by the extended stellar and ionized gas emission from the starburst, permit to study the LSB host galaxy closer to its center. We find that radial surface brightness profiles (SBPs) of the LSB hosts show at large radii a mostly exponential intensity distribution, in agreement with previous optical studies. At small to intermediate radii, however, the NIR data reveal an inwards flattening with respect to the outer exponential slope (`type V SBPs', Binggeli and Cameron, 1991) in the LSB component of more than one half of the sample BCDs. This result may constitute an important observational constraint to the dynamics and evolution of BCDs. We apply a modified exponential fitting function (Papaderos et al., 1996a) to parametrize and systematically study type V profiles in BCDs. A Sérsic law is found to be less suitable for studying the LSB component of BCDs, since it yields very uncertain solutions. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

New observations,photometric study and preliminary elements of the W UMa system DF CVn

CCD (V) light curve of the EW‐type eclipsing variable DF CVn was obtained during seven nights in April–May, 2004. With our data we were able to determine 4 new times of minimum light. The light curve appears to exhibit a typical O'Connell effect, with Maximum I brighter than Maximum II by 0.013 mag. in V. TwoWilson‐Devinney (WD) code working sessions, using the V light curve, were done with and without spots. The analysis of the results shows that the best fit was obtained with the spotted solution and indicates contact geometry. The photometric mass ratio of the system is found to be q = 0.347 and its inclination i = 72°, the primary minimum shows a transit. The star may be classified as an A‐type W Uma system. Assuming a reasonable value for the mass of the primary component an estimate of the absolute elements of DF CVn has been made, with the assumption that the primary has a mass corresponding to its spectral type according to Straizys and Kuriliene (1981). (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Optical and NIR investigation of a sample of tidal dwarf candidates

We analyzed a sample of 44 candidates for Tidal Dwarf Galaxies(TDGs) previously selected on optical imaging with low resolution spectroscopy. Most of the TDG candidates have the same redshift as the interacting system, 3 of them very likely are low metallicity dwarf galaxies in projection, and 13 show signs of kinematics decoupled from their hosting tidal tail. Subsequent NIR photometry in combination with evolutionary synthesis modeling allows us to derive stellar masses, star formation rates, and the ratio of old to young stars within each TDG candidate. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Research on Star/Galaxy Classification Based on Stacking Ensemble Learning

Machine learning has achieved great success in many areas today, but the forecast effect of machine learning often depends on the specific problem. An ensemble learning forecasts results by combining multiple base classifiers. Therefore, its ability to adapt to various scenarios is strong, and the classification accuracy is high. In response to the low classification accuracy of the darkest source magnitude set of stars/galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), a star/galaxy classification algorithm based on the stacking ensemble learning is proposed in this paper. The complete photometric data set is obtained from the SDSS Data Release (DR) 7, and divided into the bright source magnitude set, dark source magnitude set, and darkest source magnitude set according to the stellar magnitude. Firstly, the 10-fold nested cross-validation method is used for the darkest source magnitude set, then the Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) algorithms are used to establish the base-classifier model; the Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT) is used as the meta-classifier model. Finally, based on the classification accuracy of galaxies and other indicators, the classification results are analyzed and compared with the results obtained by the Function Tree (FT), SVM, RF, GBDT, Stacked Denoising Autoencoders (SDAE), Deep Belief Nets (DBN), and Deep Perception Decision Tree (DPDT) models. The experimental results show that the stacking ensemble learning model has improved the classification accuracy of galaxies in the darkest source magnitude set by nearly 10% compared to the function tree algorithm. Compared with other traditional machine learning algorithm, stronger lifting algorithm, and deep learning algorithm, the stacking ensemble learning model also has different degrees of improvement.     

A photometric and spectroscopic study of the brightest northern Cepheids — II. Fundamental physical parameters

We present a new Cepheid reddening and effective temperature scale based on the uvby photometry published in the first paper of this series. Using all available information about the companion stars in Cepheids with bright blue secondaries, we remove their light from the observed light and colour curves. The resulting corrections are as large as 0.05–0.15 mag in several cases for different colour indices. A new photometric approach based on the ( b  −  y ) versus ( B  − V ) two-colour diagram is tested with three other previous calibrations taken from the literature. Two uvby relations in earlier studies turn out to be the most reliable and consistent, and so they are used in deriving colour excesses. We determine systematically higher reddenings for Cepheids with a significant secondary light correction. The dereddened Stro¨mgren colours are calibrated in terms of T _eff and log  g using the most recent synthetic colour grids. Our temperature scale is very close to that of Kraft, which is supported by other recent temperature determinations using the infrared flux method or Geneva photometry. The photometric gravities fit some of the earlier theoretical and observational (mainly spectroscopic) results very well.