The igmspec Database of Public Spectra Probing the Intergalactic Medium

TL;DR

The paper introduces igmspec v02, a comprehensive database of over 400,000 spectra from major observatories, designed to facilitate intergalactic medium research with integrated analysis tools and future expansion plans.

Contribution

It provides a centralized, accessible database of spectra probing the IGM, with integrated software for searching, analysis, and compatibility with IVOA standards, and outlines plans for future data inclusion.

Findings

Contains 403,277 sources and 434,686 spectra.

Distributed as a 25 GB HDF5 file for efficient access.

Includes software tools for spectral analysis and data querying.

Abstract

We describe v02 of igmspec, a database of publically available ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared spectra that probe the intergalactic medium (IGM). This database, a child of the specdb repository in the specdb github organization, comprises 403277 unique sources and 434686 spectra obtained with the world's greatest observatories. All of these data are distributed in a single ~25 GB HDF5 file maintained at the University of California Observatories and the University of California, Santa Cruz. The specdb software package includes Python scripts and modules for searching the source catalog and spectral datasets, and software links to the linetools package for spectral analysis. The repository also includes software to generate private spectral datasets that are compliant with International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA) protocols and a Python-based interface for IVOA Simple Spectral Access queries. Future versions of igmspec will ingest other sources (e.g. gamma-ray burst afterglows) and other surveys as they become publicly available. The overall goal is to include every spectrum that effectively probes the IGM. Future databases of specdb may include publicly available galaxy spectra (exgalspec) and published supernovae spectra (snspec). The community is encouraged to join the effort on github: https://github.com/specdb