• Discovering strongly lensed quasar candidates with catalogue-based methods from DESI Legacy Surveys

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: The Hubble tension, revealed by a $\sim 5\sigma$ discrepancy between measurements of the Hubble-Lemaitre constant from early- and local-Universe observations, is one of the most significant problems in modern cosmology. In order to better understand the origin of this mismatch, independent techniques to measure $H_0$, such as strong lensing time delays, are required. Notably, the sample size of such systems is key to minimising statistical uncertainties and cosmic variance, which can be improved by exploring the datasets of large-scale sky surveys like DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument). We identify possible strong lensing time-delay systems within DESI by selecting candidate multiply imaged lensed quasars from a catalogue of 24,440,816 candidate QSOs contained in the 9th data release of the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys (DESI-LS). Using a friend-of-friends-like algorithm on spatial co-ordinates, our method generates an initial list of compact quasar groups. This list is subsequently filtered using a measure of the similarity of colours of a group's members and the likelihood that they are quasars. A visual inspection finally selects candidate strong lensing systems based on the spatial configuration of the group members. We identify 620 new candidate multiply imaged lensed quasars (101 Grade-A, 214 Grade-B, 305 Grade-C). This number excludes 53 known spectroscopically confirmed systems and existing candidate systems identified in other similar catalogues. When available, these new candidates will be further checked by combining the spectroscopic and photometric data from DESI. The catalogues and images of the candidates in this work are available online (https://github.com/EigenHermit/lensed_qso_cand_catalogue_He-22/).

  • Discovering strongly lensed quasar candidates with catalogue-based methods from DESI Legacy Surveys

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: The Hubble tension, revealed by a $\sim 5\sigma$ discrepancy between measurements of the Hubble-Lemaitre constant from early- and local-Universe observations, is one of the most significant problems in modern cosmology. In order to better understand the origin of this mismatch, independent techniques to measure $H_0$, such as strong lensing time delays, are required. Notably, the sample size of such systems is key to minimising statistical uncertainties and cosmic variance, which can be improved by exploring the datasets of large-scale sky surveys like DESI (Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument). We identify possible strong lensing time-delay systems within DESI by selecting candidate multiply imaged lensed quasars from a catalogue of 24,440,816 candidate QSOs contained in the 9th data release of the DESI Legacy Imaging Surveys (DESI-LS). Using a friend-of-friends-like algorithm on spatial co-ordinates, our method generates an initial list of compact quasar groups. This list is subsequently filtered using a measure of the similarity of colours of a group's members and the likelihood that they are quasars. A visual inspection finally selects candidate strong lensing systems based on the spatial configuration of the group members. We identify 620 new candidate multiply imaged lensed quasars (101 Grade-A, 214 Grade-B, 305 Grade-C). This number excludes 53 known spectroscopically confirmed systems and existing candidate systems identified in other similar catalogues. When available, these new candidates will be further checked by combining the spectroscopic and photometric data from DESI. The catalogues and images of the candidates in this work are available online (https://github.com/EigenHermit/lensed_qso_cand_catalogue_He-22/).

  • Identification of new M31 star cluster candidates from PAndAS images using convolutional neural networks

    分类: 天文学 >> 天文学 提交时间: 2023-02-19

    摘要: Context.Identification of new star cluster candidates in M31 is fundamental for the study of the M31 stellar cluster system. The machine-learning method convolutional neural network (CNN) is an efficient algorithm for searching for new M31 star cluster candidates from tens of millions of images from wide-field photometric surveys. Aims.We search for new M31 cluster candidates from the high-quality $g$- and $i$-band images of 21,245,632 sources obtained from the Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey (PAndAS) through a CNN. Methods.We collected confirmed M31 clusters and noncluster objects from the literature as our training sample. Accurate double-channel CNNs were constructed and trained using the training samples. We applied the CNN classification models to the PAndAS $g$- and $i$-band images of over 21 million sources to search new M31 cluster candidates. The CNN predictions were finally checked by five experienced human inspectors to obtain high-confidence M31 star cluster candidates. Results.After the inspection, we identified a catalogue of 117 new M31 cluster candidates. Most of the new candidates are young clusters that are located in the M31 disk. Their morphology, colours, and magnitudes are similar to those of the confirmed young disk clusters. We also identified eight globular cluster candidates that are located in the M31 halo and exhibit features similar to those of confirmed halo globular clusters. The projected distances to the M31 centre for three of them are larger than 100\,kpc.