NOMAI : A real-time photometric classifier for superluminous supernovae identification. A science module for the Fink broker

TL;DR

NOMAI is a real-time machine learning classifier that identifies superluminous supernova candidates from photometric data streams, aiding rapid follow-up observations without requiring spectroscopic redshift.

Contribution

The paper introduces NOMAI, a novel photometric classifier using model-derived features and XGBoost, deployed in real-time within the Fink broker for SLSN detection.

Findings

Classifier achieves 66% completeness and 58% purity on training data.

Successfully recovered 22 of 24 active SLSNe in a two-month evaluation.

Operates continuously in real-time within the ZTF alert stream.

Abstract

Superluminous supernovae (SLSNe) are one of the most luminous stellar explosions known, yet they remain poorly understood. Because they are intrinsically rare, efficiently identifying them in the large alert streams produced by modern time-domain surveys is essential for enabling spectroscopic follow-up. We present NOMAI, a machine learning classifier designed to identify SLSN candidates directly from photometric alerts in the ZTF stream, using light curves accumulated over at least 30 days. It does not require any spectroscopic redshift and is running in real time within the Fink broker. ZTF light curves are transformed into a set of physically motivated features derived primarily from model-fitting procedures using SALT2 and Rainbow, a blackbody-based multi-band fitting framework. These features are used to train an XGBoost classifier on a curated dataset of labeled ZTF sources constructed using literature samples of SLSNe, along with TNS and internal ZTF labeled sources. The final training dataset contains 5280 unique sources, including 225 spectroscopically classified SLSNe. On the training sample, the classifier reaches 66% completeness and 58% purity. Deployed within the Fink broker, NOMAI has been running continuously since 18/12/2025 on the ZTF alert stream and publicly reports SLSN candidates every night by automatically posting them to dedicated communication channels. Based on this, we also report the first two-month as an evaluation period, where the classifier successfully recovered 22 of the 24 active SLSNe reported on the Transient Name Server. The achieved performances demonstrate that the classifier provides a valuable tool for experts to efficiently scan the alert stream and identify promising candidates. In the near future, NOMAI is intended to be adapted to operate on the Legacy Survey of Space and Time conducted by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.