Finding Fast Transients in Real Time Using Novel Light Curve Analysis Algorithm

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel real-time light curve analysis algorithm for detecting fast astronomical transients, capable of operating independently or alongside image subtraction, with customizable sensitivity to various transient timescales and fluxes.

Contribution

The paper presents a new real-time light curve analysis algorithm specifically designed for fast transient detection in astronomical surveys, enhancing detection capabilities over existing methods.

Findings

Detected multiple fast transients using the algorithm

Analyzed false-positive rates and reliability

Demonstrated algorithm's adaptability to different transient characteristics

Abstract

The current data acquisition rate of astronomical transient surveys and the promise for significantly higher rates during in the next decade necessitate the development of novel approaches to analyze astronomical data sets and promptly detect objects of interest. The Deeper, Wider, Faster (DWF) program is a survey focused on the identification of fast evolving transients, such as fast radio bursts, gamma-ray bursts, and supernova shock breakouts. It employs a multi-frequency simultaneous coverage of the same part of the sky over several orders of magnitude. Using the Dark Energy Camera mounted on the 4-meter Blanco telescope, DWF captures a 20 second g-band exposure every minute, at a typical seeing of ~ 1" and an airmass of ~ 1.5. These optical data are collected simultaneously with observations conducted over the entire electromagnetic spectrum - from radio to gamma-rays - as well as cosmic ray observations. In this paper, we present a novel real-time light curve analysis algorithm, designed to detect transients in the DWF optical data; this algorithm functions independently from, or in conjunction with, image subtraction. We present a sample of fast transients detected by our algorithm, as well as a false-positive analysis. Our algorithm is customizable and can be tuned to be sensitive to transients evolving over different timescales and flux ranges.