Alert Classification for the ALeRCE Broker System: The Light Curve Classifier

TL;DR

This paper introduces the first version of the ALeRCE light curve classifier that processes ZTF alert data to classify various types of variable and transient sources using a hierarchical Random Forest approach.

Contribution

It presents a novel hierarchical classification system for multiple classes of stochastic, periodic, and transient sources using real ZTF data and a comprehensive labeled dataset.

Findings

High precision and recall at top classification level (0.96 and 0.99).

Moderate precision and recall at detailed class level (0.57 and 0.76).

Classifies over 868,000 sources with daily updates.

Abstract

We present the first version of the ALeRCE (Automatic Learning for the Rapid Classification of Events) broker light curve classifier. ALeRCE is currently processing the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) alert stream, in preparation for the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. The ALeRCE light curve classifier uses variability features computed from the ZTF alert stream, and colors obtained from AllWISE and ZTF photometry. We apply a Balanced Random Forest algorithm with a two-level scheme, where the top level classifies each source as periodic, stochastic, or transient, and the bottom level further resolves each of these hierarchical classes, amongst 15 total classes. This classifier corresponds to the first attempt to classify multiple classes of stochastic variables (including core- and host-dominated active galactic nuclei, blazars, young stellar objects, and cataclysmic variables) in addition to different classes of periodic and transient sources, using real data. We created a labeled set using various public catalogs (such as the Catalina Surveys and {\em Gaia} DR2 variable stars catalogs, and the Million Quasars catalog), and we classify all objects with $\geq6$ $g$-band or $\geq6$ $r$-band detections in ZTF (868,371 sources as of 2020/06/09), providing updated classifications for sources with new alerts every day. For the top level we obtain macro-averaged precision and recall scores of 0.96 and 0.99, respectively, and for the bottom level we obtain macro-averaged precision and recall scores of 0.57 and 0.76, respectively. Updated classifications from the light curve classifier can be found at the \href{http://alerce.online}{ALeRCE Explorer website}.