262 research outputs found
Automated classification of stellar spectra - I. Initial results with artificial neural networks
We have initiated a project to classify stellar spectra automatically from high-dispersion objective prism plates. The automated technique presented here is a simple backpropagation neural network, and is based on the visual classification work of Houk. The plate material (Houk's) is currently being digitized, and contains ≈ 105 stars down to V ≈ 11 at ≈ 2-Å resolution from ≈ 3850 to 5150 Å. For this first paper in the series we report on the results of 575 stars digitized from 6 plates. We find that even with the limited data set now in hand we can determine the temperature classification to better than 1.7 spectral subtypes from B3 to M4. Our current sample size provides insufficient training set material to generate luminosity and metallicity classifications. Our eventual aims in this project are (1) to create a large and homogeneous digital stellar spectral library; (2) to create a well-understood and robust automatic classification algorithm which can determine temperatures, luminosities and metallicities for a wide variety of spectral types; (3) to use these data, supplemented by deeper plate material, for the study of Galactic structure and chemical evolution; and (4) to find unusual or new classes of objects
Morphological Classification of galaxies by Artificial Neural Networks
We explore a method for automatic morphological classification of galaxies by an Artificial Neural Network algorithm. The method is illustrated using 13 galaxy parameters measured by machine (ESO-LV), and classified into five types (E, S0, Sa + Sb, Sc + Sd and Irr). A simple Backpropagation algorithm allows us to train a network on a subset of the catalogue according to human classification, and then to predict, using the measured parameters, the classification for the rest of the catalogue. We show that the neural network behaves in our problem as a Bayesian classifier, i.e. it assigns the a posteriori probability for each of the five classes considered. The network highest probability choice agrees with the catalogue classification for 64 percent of the galaxies. If either the first or the second highest probability choice of the network is considered, the success rate is 90 per cent. The technique allows uniform and more objective classification of very large extragalactic data sets
APM z>4 QSO Survey: Distribution and Evolution of High Column Density HI Absorbers
Eleven candidate damped Lya absorption systems were identified in 27 spectra
of the quasars from the APM z>4 survey covering the redshift range
2.83.5). High resolution echelle spectra (0.8A FWHM)
have been obtained for three quasars, including 2 of the highest redshift
objects in the survey. Two damped systems have confirmed HI column densities of
N(HI) >= 10^20.3 atoms cm^-2, with a third falling just below this threshold.
We have discovered the highest redshift damped Lya absorber known at z=4.383 in
QSO BR1202-0725. The APM QSOs provide a substantial increase in the redshift
path available for damped surveys for z>3. We combine this high redshift sample
with other quasar samples covering the redshift range 0.008 < z < 4.7 to study
the redshift evolution and the column density distribution function for
absorbers with log N(HI)>=17.2. In the HI column density distribution
f(N)=kN^-beta we find evidence for breaks in the power law, flattening for
17.221.2. The column density
distribution function for the data with log N(HI)>=20.3 is better fit with the
form f(N)=(f*/N*)(N/N*)^-beta exp(-N/N*). Significant redshift evolution in the
number density per unit redshift is evident in the higher column density
systems with an apparent decline in N(z) for z>3.5.Comment: To appear in MNRAS. Latex file (10 pages of text) plus 14 separate
postscript figure files. Requires mn.sty. Postscript version with figures
embedded is available at http://www.ociw.edu/~lisa/publications.htm
Evolution of Neutral Gas at High Redshift -- Implications for the Epoch of Galaxy Formation
Though observationally rare, damped Lya absorption systems dominate the mass
density of neutral gas in the Universe. Eleven high redshift damped Lya systems
covering 2.84 QSO Survey,
extending these absorption system surveys to the highest redshifts currently
possible. Combining our new data set with previous surveys we find that the
cosmological mass density in neutral gas, omega_g, does not rise as steeply
prior to z~2 as indicated by previous studies. There is evidence in the
observed omega_g for a flattening at z~2 and a possible turnover at z~3. When
combined with the decline at z>3.5 in number density per unit redshift of
damped systems with column densities log N(HI)>21 atoms cm^-2, these results
point to an epoch at z>3 prior to which the highest column density damped
systems are still forming. We find that over the redshift range 2<z<4 the total
mass in neutral gas is marginally comparable with the total visible mass in
stars in present day galaxies. However, if one considers the total mass visible
in stellar disks alone, ie excluding galactic bulges, the two values are
comparable. We are observing a mass of neutral gas comparable to the mass of
visible disk stars. Lanzetta, Wolfe & Turnshek (1995) found that omega_g(z~3.5)
was twice omega_g(z~2), implying a much larger amount of star formation must
have taken place between z=3.5 and z=2 than is indicated by metallicity
studies. This created a `cosmic G-dwarf problem'. The more gradual evolution of
omega_g we find alleviates this. These results have profound implications for
theories of galaxy formation.Comment: To appear in MNRAS. Latex file (4 pages of text) plus 3 separate
postscript figure files. Requires mn.sty. Postscript version with figures
embedded is available at http://www.ociw.edu/~lisa/publications.htm
The evolution of Omega(HI) and the epoch of formation of damped Lyman-alpha absorbers
We present a study of the evolution of the column density distribution,
f(N,z), and total neutral hydrogen mass in high-column density quasar absorbers
using candidates from a recent high-redshift survey for damped Lyman-alpha
(DLA) and Lyman limit system (LLS) absorbers. The observed number of LLS
(N(HI)> 1.6 * 10^{17} atom/cm^2) is used to constrain f(N,z) below the
classical DLA Wolfe et al. (1986) definition of 2 * 10^{20} atom/cm^2. The
joint LLS-DLA analysis shows unambiguously that f(N,z) deviates significantly
from a single power law and that a Gamma-law distribution of the form
f(N,z)=(f_*/N_*)(N/N_*)^{-Beta} exp(-N/N_*) provides a better description of
the observations. These results are used to determine the amount of neutral gas
contained in DLAs and in systems with lower column density. Whilst in the
redshift range 2 to 3.5, ~90% of the neutral HI mass is in DLAs, we find that
at z>3.5 this fraction drops to only 55% and that the remaining 'missing' mass
fraction of the neutral gas lies in sub-DLAs with N(HI) 10^{19} - 2 * 10^{20}
atom/cm^2. The characteristic column density, N_*, changes from 1.6 * 10^{21}
atom/cm^2 at z3.5, supporting a picture
where at z>3.5, we are directly observing the formation of high column density
neutral hydrogen DLA systems from lower column density units. Moreover since
current metallicity studies of DLA systems focus on the higher column density
systems they may be giving a biased or incomplete view of global galactic
chemical evolution at z>3. After correcting the observed mass in HI for the
``missing'' neutral gas the comoving mass density now shows no evidence for a
decrease above z=2. (abridged)Comment: Replaced to match version published in MNRAS. One figure and appendix
added, analysis and conclusions unchange
AUTOMATED MORPHOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF APM GALAXIES BY SUPERVISED ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS
We train Artificial Neural Networks to classify galaxies based solely on the
morphology of the galaxy images as they appear on blue survey plates. The
images are reduced and morphological features such as bulge size and the number
of arms are extracted, all in a fully automated manner. The galaxy sample was
first classified by 6 independent experts. We use several definitions for the
mean type of each galaxy, based on those classifications. We then train and
test the network on these features. We find that the rms error of the network
classifications, as compared with the mean types of the expert classifications,
is 1.8 Revised Hubble Types. This is comparable to the overall rms dispersion
between the experts. This result is robust and almost completely independent of
the network architecture used.Comment: The full paper contains 25 pages, and includes 22 figures. It is
available at ftp://ftp.ast.cam.ac.uk/pub/hn/apm2.ps . The table in the
appendix is available on request from [email protected]. Mon. Not. R. Astr.
Soc., in pres
Searching for life in the Universe: unconventional methods for an unconventional problem
The search for life, on and off our planet, can be done by conventional methods with which we are all familiar. These methods are sensitive and specific, and are often capable of detecting even single cells. However, if the search broadens to include life that may be different (even subtly different) in composition, the methods and even the approach must be altered. Here we discuss the development of what we call non-earthcentric life detection – detecting life with methods that could detect life no matter what its form or composition. To develop these methods, we simply ask, can we define life in terms of its general properties and particularly those that can be measured and quantified? Taking such an approach we can search for life using physics and chemistry to ask questions about structure, chemical composition, thermodynamics, and kinetics. Structural complexity can be searched for using computer algorithms that recognize complex structures. Once identified, these structures can be examined for a variety of chemical traits, including elemental composition, chirality, and complex chemistry. A second approach involves defining our environment in terms of energy sources (i.e., reductants), and oxidants (e.g. what is available to eat and breathe), and then looking for areas in which such phenomena are inexplicably out of chemical equilibrium. These disequilibria, when found, can then be examined in detail for the presence of the structural and chemical complexity that presumably characterizes any living systems. By this approach, we move the search for life to one that should facilitate the detection of any earthly life it encountered, as well as any non-conventional life forms that have structure, complex chemistry, and live via some form of redox chemistry
NICMOS Snapshot Survey of Damped Lyman Alpha Quasars
We image 19 quasars with 22 damped Lyman alpha (DLA) systems using the F160W
filter and the Near-Infrared Camera and Multiobject Spectrograph aboard the
Hubble Space Telescope, in both direct and coronagraphic modes. We reach 5
sigma detection limits of ~H=22 in the majority of our images. We compare our
observations to the observed Lyman-break population of high-redshift galaxies,
as well as Bruzual & Charlot evolutionary models of present-day galaxies
redshifted to the distances of the absorption systems. We predict H magnitudes
for our DLAs, assuming they are producing stars like an L* Lyman-break galaxy
(LBG) at their redshift. Comparing these predictions to our sensitivity, we
find that we should be able to detect a galaxy around 0.5-1.0 L* (LBG) for most
of our observations. We find only one new possible candidate, that near
LBQS0010-0012. This scarcity of candidates leads us to the conclusion that most
DLA systems are not drawn from a normal LBG luminosity function nor a local
galaxy luminosity function placed at these high redshifts.Comment: 31 pages, 8 figures, Accepted for Feb. 10 issue of Ap
Chemical Abundances of the Damped Lya Systems at z>1.5
We present chemical abundance measurements for 19 damped lya systems observed
with HIRES on the 10m W.M. Keck Telescope. Our principal goal is to investigate
the abundance patterns of the damped systems and thereby determine the
underlying physical processes which dominate their chemical evolution. We place
particular emphasis on gauging the relative importance of two complementary
effects often invoked to explain the damped lya abundances: (1) nucleosynthetic
enrichment from Type II supernovae and (2) an ISM-like dust depletion pattern.
Similar to the principal results of Lu et al. (1996), our observations lend
support both for dust depletion and Type II SN enrichment. Specifically, the
observed overabundance of Zn/Fe and underabundance of Ni/Fe relative to solar
abundances suggest significant dust depletion within the damped lya systems.
Meanwhile, the relative abundances of Al, Si, and Cr vs. Fe are consistent with
both dust depletion and Type II supernova enrichment. Our measurements of Ti/Fe
and the Mn/Fe measurements from Lu et al. (1996), however, cannot be explained
by dust depletion and indicate an underlying Type II SN pattern. Finally, the
observed values of [S/Fe] are inconsistent with the combined effects of dust
depletion and the nucleosynthetic yields expected for Type II supernovae. This
last result emphasizes the need for another physical process to explain the
damped lya abundance patterns.
We also examine the metallicity of the damped lya systems both with respect
to Zn/H and Fe/H. Our results confirm previous surveys by Pettini and
collaborators, i.e., [] = -1.15 +/- 0.15 dex. [abridged]Comment: 18 pages, 4 embedded figures, 20 additional figures. Accepted to the
Astrophysical Journal 10/20/98. Uses Latex2e, emualteapj.sty, and
onecolfloat.st
A new 21-cm absorber identified with an galaxy
We present Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) observations of redshifted
21-cm absorption from the metal line absorption system towards PKS
1243-072. HI absorption is clearly detected; the absorption profile has a
velocity spread of km/s. Detection of 21-cm absorption indicates that
the absorber has an HI column density large enough to be classified as a damped
Lyman- system. Follow up ground based optical imaging and spectroscopy
allow us to identify the absorber with an galaxy at an impact
parameter of kpc from the line of sight to the QSO. The absorbing
galaxy is unusual in that it has bright emission lines. On the basis of the
optical spectrum we are unable to uniquely classify the galaxy since its
emission line ratios lie in the transition region between starburst and Seyfert
II type spectra.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
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