The Time-domain Spectroscopic Survey: Target Selection for Repeat Spectroscopy

Chelsea L. MacLeod; Paul J. Green; Scott F. Anderson; Michael Eracleous; John J. Ruan; Jessie Runnoe; William Nielsen Brandt; Carles Badenes; Jenny Greene; Eric Morganson; Sarah J. Schmidt; Axel Schwope; Yue Shen; Rachael Amaro; Amy Lebleu; Nurten Filiz Ak; Catherine J. Grier; Daniel Hoover; Sean M. McGraw; Kyle Dawson; Patrick B. Hall; Suzanne L. Hawley; Vivek Mariappan; Adam D. Myers; Isabelle Paris; Donald P. Schneider; Keivan G. Stassun; Matthew A. Bershady; Michael R. Blanton; Hee Jong Seo; Jeremy Tinker; J. G. Fernández-Trincado; Kenneth Chambers; Nick Kaiser; R. P. Kudritzki; Eugene Magnier; Nigel Metcalfe; Chris Z. Waters

doi:10.3847/1538-3881/aa99da

The Time-domain Spectroscopic Survey: Target Selection for Repeat Spectroscopy

Chelsea L. MacLeod, Paul J. Green, Scott F. Anderson, Michael Eracleous, John J. Ruan, Jessie Runnoe, William Nielsen Brandt, Carles Badenes, Jenny Greene, Eric Morganson, Sarah J. Schmidt, Axel Schwope, Yue Shen, Rachael Amaro, Amy Lebleu, Nurten Filiz Ak, Catherine J. Grier, Daniel Hoover, Sean M. McGraw, Kyle DawsonPatrick B. Hall, Suzanne L. Hawley, Vivek Mariappan, Adam D. Myers, Isabelle Paris, Donald P. Schneider, Keivan G. Stassun, Matthew A. Bershady, Michael R. Blanton, Hee Jong Seo, Jeremy Tinker, J. G. Fernández-Trincado, Kenneth Chambers, Nick Kaiser, R. P. Kudritzki, Eugene Magnier, Nigel Metcalfe, Chris Z. Waters

Astrophysical Sciences

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18 Scopus citations

Abstract

As astronomers increasingly exploit the information available in the time domain, spectroscopic variability in particular opens broad new channels of investigation. Here we describe the selection algorithms for all targets intended for repeat spectroscopy in the Time Domain Spectroscopic Survey (TDSS), part of the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey within the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)-IV. Also discussed are the scientific rationale and technical constraints leading to these target selections. The TDSS includes a large "repeat quasar spectroscopy" (RQS) program delivering ∼13,000 repeat spectra of confirmed SDSS quasars, and several smaller "few-epoch spectroscopy" (FES) programs targeting specific classes of quasars as well as stars. The RQS program aims to provide a large and diverse quasar data set for studying variations in quasar spectra on timescales of years, a comparison sample for the FES quasar programs, and an opportunity for discovering rare, serendipitous events. The FES programs cover a wide variety of phenomena in both quasars and stars. Quasar FES programs target broad absorption line quasars, high signal-to-noise ratio normal broad line quasars, quasars with double-peaked or very asymmetric broad emission line profiles, binary supermassive black hole candidates, and the most photometrically variable quasars. Strongly variable stars are also targeted for repeat spectroscopy, encompassing many types of eclipsing binary systems, and classical pulsators like RR Lyrae. Other stellar FES programs allow spectroscopic variability studies of active ultracool dwarf stars, dwarf carbon stars, and white dwarf/M dwarf spectroscopic binaries. We present example TDSS spectra and describe anticipated sample sizes and results.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	6
Journal	Astronomical Journal
Volume	155
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/aa99da
State	Published - Jan 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

Quasars: general
stars: variables: general
surveys

Access to Document

10.3847/1538-3881/aa99da

Cite this

MacLeod, C. L., Green, P. J., Anderson, S. F., Eracleous, M., Ruan, J. J., Runnoe, J., Brandt, W. N., Badenes, C., Greene, J., Morganson, E., Schmidt, S. J., Schwope, A., Shen, Y., Amaro, R., Lebleu, A., Ak, N. F., Grier, C. J., Hoover, D., McGraw, S. M., ... Waters, C. Z. (2018). The Time-domain Spectroscopic Survey: Target Selection for Repeat Spectroscopy. Astronomical Journal, 155(1), Article 6. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/aa99da

@article{28590c66bb7e4bcf800fb3c8200b144a,

title = "The Time-domain Spectroscopic Survey: Target Selection for Repeat Spectroscopy",

abstract = "As astronomers increasingly exploit the information available in the time domain, spectroscopic variability in particular opens broad new channels of investigation. Here we describe the selection algorithms for all targets intended for repeat spectroscopy in the Time Domain Spectroscopic Survey (TDSS), part of the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey within the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)-IV. Also discussed are the scientific rationale and technical constraints leading to these target selections. The TDSS includes a large {"}repeat quasar spectroscopy{"} (RQS) program delivering ∼13,000 repeat spectra of confirmed SDSS quasars, and several smaller {"}few-epoch spectroscopy{"} (FES) programs targeting specific classes of quasars as well as stars. The RQS program aims to provide a large and diverse quasar data set for studying variations in quasar spectra on timescales of years, a comparison sample for the FES quasar programs, and an opportunity for discovering rare, serendipitous events. The FES programs cover a wide variety of phenomena in both quasars and stars. Quasar FES programs target broad absorption line quasars, high signal-to-noise ratio normal broad line quasars, quasars with double-peaked or very asymmetric broad emission line profiles, binary supermassive black hole candidates, and the most photometrically variable quasars. Strongly variable stars are also targeted for repeat spectroscopy, encompassing many types of eclipsing binary systems, and classical pulsators like RR Lyrae. Other stellar FES programs allow spectroscopic variability studies of active ultracool dwarf stars, dwarf carbon stars, and white dwarf/M dwarf spectroscopic binaries. We present example TDSS spectra and describe anticipated sample sizes and results.",

keywords = "Quasars: general, stars: variables: general, surveys",

author = "MacLeod, {Chelsea L.} and Green, {Paul J.} and Anderson, {Scott F.} and Michael Eracleous and Ruan, {John J.} and Jessie Runnoe and Brandt, {William Nielsen} and Carles Badenes and Jenny Greene and Eric Morganson and Schmidt, {Sarah J.} and Axel Schwope and Yue Shen and Rachael Amaro and Amy Lebleu and Ak, {Nurten Filiz} and Grier, {Catherine J.} and Daniel Hoover and McGraw, {Sean M.} and Kyle Dawson and Hall, {Patrick B.} and Hawley, {Suzanne L.} and Vivek Mariappan and Myers, {Adam D.} and Isabelle Paris and Schneider, {Donald P.} and Stassun, {Keivan G.} and Bershady, {Matthew A.} and Blanton, {Michael R.} and Seo, {Hee Jong} and Jeremy Tinker and Fern{\'a}ndez-Trincado, {J. G.} and Kenneth Chambers and Nick Kaiser and Kudritzki, {R. P.} and Eugene Magnier and Nigel Metcalfe and Waters, {Chris Z.}",

year = "2018",

month = jan,

doi = "10.3847/1538-3881/aa99da",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "155",

journal = "Astronomical Journal",

issn = "0004-6256",

publisher = "American Astronomical Society",

number = "1",

}

MacLeod, CL, Green, PJ, Anderson, SF, Eracleous, M, Ruan, JJ, Runnoe, J, Brandt, WN, Badenes, C, Greene, J, Morganson, E, Schmidt, SJ, Schwope, A, Shen, Y, Amaro, R, Lebleu, A, Ak, NF, Grier, CJ, Hoover, D, McGraw, SM, Dawson, K, Hall, PB, Hawley, SL, Mariappan, V, Myers, AD, Paris, I, Schneider, DP, Stassun, KG, Bershady, MA, Blanton, MR, Seo, HJ, Tinker, J, Fernández-Trincado, JG, Chambers, K, Kaiser, N, Kudritzki, RP, Magnier, E, Metcalfe, N & Waters, CZ 2018, 'The Time-domain Spectroscopic Survey: Target Selection for Repeat Spectroscopy', Astronomical Journal, vol. 155, no. 1, 6. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/aa99da

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Time-domain Spectroscopic Survey

T2 - Target Selection for Repeat Spectroscopy

AU - MacLeod, Chelsea L.

AU - Green, Paul J.

AU - Anderson, Scott F.

AU - Eracleous, Michael

AU - Ruan, John J.

AU - Runnoe, Jessie

AU - Brandt, William Nielsen

AU - Badenes, Carles

AU - Greene, Jenny

AU - Morganson, Eric

AU - Schmidt, Sarah J.

AU - Schwope, Axel

AU - Shen, Yue

AU - Amaro, Rachael

AU - Lebleu, Amy

AU - Ak, Nurten Filiz

AU - Grier, Catherine J.

AU - Hoover, Daniel

AU - McGraw, Sean M.

AU - Dawson, Kyle

AU - Hall, Patrick B.

AU - Hawley, Suzanne L.

AU - Mariappan, Vivek

AU - Myers, Adam D.

AU - Paris, Isabelle

AU - Schneider, Donald P.

AU - Stassun, Keivan G.

AU - Bershady, Matthew A.

AU - Blanton, Michael R.

AU - Seo, Hee Jong

AU - Tinker, Jeremy

AU - Fernández-Trincado, J. G.

AU - Chambers, Kenneth

AU - Kaiser, Nick

AU - Kudritzki, R. P.

AU - Magnier, Eugene

AU - Metcalfe, Nigel

AU - Waters, Chris Z.

PY - 2018/1

Y1 - 2018/1

N2 - As astronomers increasingly exploit the information available in the time domain, spectroscopic variability in particular opens broad new channels of investigation. Here we describe the selection algorithms for all targets intended for repeat spectroscopy in the Time Domain Spectroscopic Survey (TDSS), part of the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey within the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)-IV. Also discussed are the scientific rationale and technical constraints leading to these target selections. The TDSS includes a large "repeat quasar spectroscopy" (RQS) program delivering ∼13,000 repeat spectra of confirmed SDSS quasars, and several smaller "few-epoch spectroscopy" (FES) programs targeting specific classes of quasars as well as stars. The RQS program aims to provide a large and diverse quasar data set for studying variations in quasar spectra on timescales of years, a comparison sample for the FES quasar programs, and an opportunity for discovering rare, serendipitous events. The FES programs cover a wide variety of phenomena in both quasars and stars. Quasar FES programs target broad absorption line quasars, high signal-to-noise ratio normal broad line quasars, quasars with double-peaked or very asymmetric broad emission line profiles, binary supermassive black hole candidates, and the most photometrically variable quasars. Strongly variable stars are also targeted for repeat spectroscopy, encompassing many types of eclipsing binary systems, and classical pulsators like RR Lyrae. Other stellar FES programs allow spectroscopic variability studies of active ultracool dwarf stars, dwarf carbon stars, and white dwarf/M dwarf spectroscopic binaries. We present example TDSS spectra and describe anticipated sample sizes and results.

AB - As astronomers increasingly exploit the information available in the time domain, spectroscopic variability in particular opens broad new channels of investigation. Here we describe the selection algorithms for all targets intended for repeat spectroscopy in the Time Domain Spectroscopic Survey (TDSS), part of the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey within the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)-IV. Also discussed are the scientific rationale and technical constraints leading to these target selections. The TDSS includes a large "repeat quasar spectroscopy" (RQS) program delivering ∼13,000 repeat spectra of confirmed SDSS quasars, and several smaller "few-epoch spectroscopy" (FES) programs targeting specific classes of quasars as well as stars. The RQS program aims to provide a large and diverse quasar data set for studying variations in quasar spectra on timescales of years, a comparison sample for the FES quasar programs, and an opportunity for discovering rare, serendipitous events. The FES programs cover a wide variety of phenomena in both quasars and stars. Quasar FES programs target broad absorption line quasars, high signal-to-noise ratio normal broad line quasars, quasars with double-peaked or very asymmetric broad emission line profiles, binary supermassive black hole candidates, and the most photometrically variable quasars. Strongly variable stars are also targeted for repeat spectroscopy, encompassing many types of eclipsing binary systems, and classical pulsators like RR Lyrae. Other stellar FES programs allow spectroscopic variability studies of active ultracool dwarf stars, dwarf carbon stars, and white dwarf/M dwarf spectroscopic binaries. We present example TDSS spectra and describe anticipated sample sizes and results.

KW - Quasars: general

KW - stars: variables: general

KW - surveys

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85040455203&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85040455203&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3847/1538-3881/aa99da

DO - 10.3847/1538-3881/aa99da

M3 - Article

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SN - 0004-6256

VL - 155

JO - Astronomical Journal

JF - Astronomical Journal

IS - 1

M1 - 6

ER -

The Time-domain Spectroscopic Survey: Target Selection for Repeat Spectroscopy

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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Keywords

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