WST spectroscopic variability alerts: discovery space, data flow system requirements

TL;DR

This paper explores the potential of the WST spectroscopic data flow system to issue real-time alerts for variable objects by detecting spectral variations, expanding the discovery space beyond imaging surveys.

Contribution

It proposes a new spectroscopic alert system for WST, detailing data processing requirements, reference database needs, and methods for variability detection and alert ranking.

Findings

Spectroscopic alerts can identify variability in emission line stars and active galaxies.

A rapid data processing system is essential for timely follow-up observations.

Modeling spectra enhances robustness in variability detection.

Abstract

The enormous multiplexity of the WST opens up the possibility to trigger alerts for variable objects - an option that has been reserved so far only for imaging surveys. WST can go further by detecting spectroscopic line profile and line strength variations. I review previous alert-issuing surveys that are limited to imaging, and describe some of the new research possibilities that this feature of the data flow system (DFS) would open up. The latter range from variability of emission line stars, such as Bes, WRs and LBVs to variability of active galaxies and quasars, including the so-called changing look objects that shift between Type 1 and Type 2. Furthermore, I describe the requirements that the WST DFS must meet to make this feasible. The most critical aspect is the rapid data processing for timely follow-up. Next, the alert system is tightly connected with the data reduction and archive, because it will need an extensive and continuously updated spectral reference database. The new spectra will have to be compared against these reference spectra to identify variations. The reference spectra can either be "native" from the WST itself or they can originate from other spectroscopic surveys. Two options for the DFS are considered: one is to conduct an automated search of the WST's own archive, and potentially of other spectroscopic archives and a second option is to allow the users to submit reference spectra on their own. The spectroscopic alert system will open up a completely new discovery space that is not accessible to the existing or planned near-future surveys. Finally, I discuss the advantages of moving the variability detection to physical parameters by modeling the observed and reference spectra and comparing the derived fitting parameters. This strategy offers a robust method for alert ranking.