443 research outputs found
Kepler Presearch Data Conditioning I - Architecture and Algorithms for Error Correction in Kepler Light Curves
Kepler provides light curves of 156,000 stars with unprecedented precision.
However, the raw data as they come from the spacecraft contain significant
systematic and stochastic errors. These errors, which include discontinuities,
systematic trends, and outliers, obscure the astrophysical signals in the light
curves. To correct these errors is the task of the Presearch Data Conditioning
(PDC) module of the Kepler data analysis pipeline. The original version of PDC
in Kepler did not meet the extremely high performance requirements for the
detection of miniscule planet transits or highly accurate analysis of stellar
activity and rotation. One particular deficiency was that astrophysical
features were often removed as a side-effect to removal of errors. In this
paper we introduce the completely new and significantly improved version of PDC
which was implemented in Kepler SOC 8.0. This new PDC version, which utilizes a
Bayesian approach for removal of systematics, reliably corrects errors in the
light curves while at the same time preserving planet transits and other
astrophysically interesting signals. We describe the architecture and the
algorithms of this new PDC module, show typical errors encountered in Kepler
data, and illustrate the corrections using real light curve examples.Comment: Submitted to PASP. Also see companion paper "Kepler Presearch Data
Conditioning II - A Bayesian Approach to Systematic Error Correction" by Jeff
C. Smith et a
Kepler Observations of Rapid Optical Variability in Active Galactic Nuclei
Over three quarters in 2010-2011, Kepler monitored optical emission from four
active galactic nuclei (AGN) with ~30 min sampling, >90% duty cycle, and <~0.1%
repeatability. These data determined the AGN optical fluctuation power spectral
density functions (PSDs) over a wide range in temporal frequency. Fits to these
PSDs yielded power law slopes of -2.6 to -3.3, much steeper than typically seen
in the X-rays. We find evidence that individual AGN exhibit intrinsically
different PSD slopes. The steep PSD fits are a challenge to recent AGN
variability models but seem consistent with first order MRI theoretical
calculations of accretion disk fluctuations.Comment: Accepted by Astrophysical Journal Letters, 31 Oct 201
A Class of Eccentric Binaries with Dynamic Tidal Distortions Discovered with Kepler
We have discovered a class of eccentric binary systems within the Kepler data
archive that have dynamic tidal distortions and tidally-induced pulsations.
Each has a uniquely shaped light curve that is characterized by periodic
brightening or variability at time scales of 4-20 days, frequently accompanied
by shorter period oscillations. We can explain the dominant features of the
entire class with orbitally-varying tidal forces that occur in close, eccentric
binary systems. The large variety of light curve shapes arises from viewing
systems at different angles. This hypothesis is supported by spectroscopic
radial velocity measurements for five systems, each showing evidence of being
in an eccentric binary system. Prior to the discovery of these 17 new systems,
only four stars, where KOI-54 is the best example, were known to have evidence
of these dynamic tides and tidally-induced oscillations. We perform preliminary
fits to the light curves and radial velocity data, present the overall
properties of this class and discuss the work required to accurately model
these systems.Comment: 13 pages, submitted to Ap
TESS Data Release Notes: Sector 18 DR25
This release note discusses the science data products produced by the Science Processing Operations Center at Ames Research Center from Sector 18 observations made with the TESS spacecraft and cameras as a means to document instrument performance and data characteristics
TESS Data Release Notes: Sector 17, DR24
This release note discusses the science data products produced by the Science Processing Operations Center at Ames Research Center from Sector 17 observations made with the TESS spacecraft and cameras as a means to document instrument performance and data characteristics
TESS Data Release Notes: Sector 20, DR27
This release note discusses the science data products produced by the Science Processing Operations Center at Ames Research Center from Sector 20 observations made with the TESS spacecraft and cameras as a means to document instrument performance and data characteristics
TESS Data Release Notes: Sector 9 DR11
This release note discusses the science data products produced by the Science Processing Operations Center at Ames Research Center from Sector 9 observations made with the TESS spacecraft and cameras as a means to document instrument performance and data characteristics
Detection of Potential Transit Signals in 17 Quarters of Kepler Data: Results of the Final Kepler Mission Transiting Planet Search (DR25)
We present results of the final Kepler Data Processing Pipeline search for transiting planet signals in the full 17-quarter primary mission data set. The search includes a total of 198,709 stellar targets, of which 112,046 were observed in all 17 quarters and 86,663 in fewer than 17 quarters. We report on 17,230 targets for which at least one transit signature is identified that meets the specified detection criteria: periodicity, minimum of three observed transit events, detection statistic (i.e., signal-to-noise ratio) in excess of the search threshold, and passing grade on three statistical transit consistency tests. Light curves for which a transit signal is identified are iteratively searched for additional signatures after a limb-darkened transiting planet model is fitted to the data and transit events are removed. The search for additional planets adds 16,802 transit signals for a total of 34,032; this far exceeds the number of transit signatures identified in prior pipeline runs. There was a strategic emphasis on completeness over reliability for the final Kepler transit search. A comparison of the transit signals against a set of 3402 well-established, high-quality Kepler Objects of Interest yields a recovery rate of 99.8%. The high recovery rate must be weighed against a large number of false-alarm detections. We examine characteristics of the planet population implied by the transiting planet model fits with an emphasis on detections that would represent small planets orbiting in the habitable zone of their host stars
TESS Data Release Notes: Sector 16, DR22
This release note discusses the science data products produced by the Science Processing Operations Center at Ames Research Center from Sector 16 observations made with the TESS spacecraft and cameras as a means to document instrument performance and data characteristics
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