Stellar Density Classification and Regression for CSST Multi-color Imaging Using Deep Learning

TL;DR

This paper introduces a hierarchical deep learning approach for classifying stellar densities and extracting sources in CSST multi-color imaging, improving accuracy across diverse environments.

Contribution

The authors develop a two-stage deep learning model that classifies stellar density and predicts bright stars, enhancing data reduction in heterogeneous astronomical fields.

Findings

Achieved 98.83% accuracy in density classification.

Regression model attained 0.0824 dex MAE in bright star prediction.

Decoupling density classification from source extraction improves data fidelity.

Abstract

The Chinese Space Station Survey Telescope (CSST) aims to map the universe across an unprecedented dynamic range of stellar densities, spanning from extragalactic voids to the crowded Galactic center (e.g. a few stars and galaxies in the voids and $>10^5$ stars per detector in Galactic center). However, processing such heterogeneous data with a general source extraction pipeline introduces significant systematic uncertainties, standard algorithms exhibit poor accuracy in crowded fields and suffer from increased astrometric uncertainty in void regions. To mitigate these systematics, we propose a hierarchical, two-stage deep learning model for adaptive data reduction. The first stage ('classification') employs a ResNet-34 model to classify images into six discrete density categories, achieving $98.83\%$ in global accuracy. This classification acts as a critical decision gate, ensuring high calibration accuracy in the crowded fields. In the second stage ('regression'), a ResNet-50 regression model predicts the bright stars ($<23.5$ mag) in the field, which is essential for astrometric calibration, achieving a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.0824 dex. By decoupling density characterization from source extraction, our model ensures that photometric and astrometric algorithms are optimally matched to the stellar density environment, thereby enhancing the fidelity and homogeneity of CSST as well as future large sky survey data products.