Scheduling in Targeted Transient Surveys and a New Telescope for CHASE

TL;DR

This paper introduces a scheduling method for targeted transient surveys that maximizes detection probability, demonstrated through a new telescope setup for the CHASE survey aiming to find young supernovae.

Contribution

It presents a novel scheduling strategy based on probabilistic detection maximization and adapts a genetic algorithm for use with a new telescope in the CHASE survey.

Findings

Effective scheduling schedules designed for a 50 cm telescope.

The method improves detection likelihood of young supernovae.

The approach is adaptable to different transient survey parameters.

Abstract

We present a method for scheduling observations in small field-of-view transient targeted surveys. The method is based on maximizing the probability of detection of transient events of a given type and age since occurrence; it requires knowledge of the time since the last observation for every observed field, the expected light curve of the event, and the expected rate of events in the fields where the search is performed. In order to test this scheduling strategy we use a modified version of the genetic scheduler developed for the telescope control system RTS2. In particular, we present example schedules designed for a future 50 cm telescope that will expand the capabilities of the CHASE survey, which aims to detect young supernova events in nearby galaxies. We also include a brief description of the telescope and the status of the project, which is expected to enter a commissioning phase in 2010.