The Palomar Transient Factory: System Overview, Performance and First Results

TL;DR

The Palomar Transient Factory is an automated wide-field survey system that systematically explores the optical transient sky, providing real-time classification, follow-up, and a comprehensive database, with initial results including 51 transient detections.

Contribution

This paper presents the first overview of the PTF system, its performance, and initial transient detections, highlighting its automated capabilities and survey strategies.

Findings

Successful commissioning of the new survey camera.

Detection of 51 optical transients in initial data.

Effective real-time transient classification and follow-up.

Abstract

The Palomar Transient Factory (PTF) is a fully-automated, wide-field survey aimed at a systematic exploration of the optical transient sky. The transient survey is performed using a new 8.1 square degree camera installed on the 48-inch Samuel Oschin telescope at Palomar Observatory; colors and light curves for detected transients are obtained with the automated Palomar 60-inch telescope. PTF uses eighty percent of the 1.2-m and fifty percent of the 1.5-m telescope time. With an exposure of 60-s the survey reaches a depth of approximately 21.3 in g' and 20.6 in R (5 sigma, median seeing). Four major experiments are planned for the five-year project: 1) a 5-day cadence supernova search; 2) a rapid transient search with cadences between 90 seconds and 1 day; 3) a search for eclipsing binaries and transiting planets in Orion; and 4) a 3-pi sr deep H-alpha survey. PTF provides automatic, realtime transient classification and follow up, as well as a database including every source detected in each frame. This paper summarizes the PTF project, including several months of on-sky performance tests of the new survey camera, the observing plans and the data reduction strategy. We conclude by detailing the first 51 PTF optical transient detections, found in commissioning data.