New Pipeline Enhances Detection of Astrophysical Transients Using DECam

A new pipeline has been introduced for the Dark Energy Camera (DECam) that focuses on the rapid detection of astrophysical transients, particularly gravitational wave optical counterparts. The authors of the study, Shenming Fu, Thomas Matheson, Aaron Meisner, Yuanyuan Zhang, Sebastián Vicencio, and Destry Saul, detail the steps involved in processing raw data to identify these transients in their paper titled "DECam Multi-Messenger Astrophysics Pipeline. I. from Raw Data to Single-Exposure Candidates".

The pipeline employs rapid image subtraction and source selection techniques, which allow for the detection of transient events across individual exposures. This method utilizes the Vera C. Rubin Observatory's Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) Science Pipelines software to create difference images from DECam data. The authors highlight that the pipeline can effectively select real transients when they are sufficiently bright, achieving a signal-to-noise ratio greater than 15.

In their validation process, the authors tested the pipeline using archival exposures that included various astronomical phenomena such as kilonovae, supernovae, stellar flares, and variable stars. The results demonstrated that the pipeline produces clean light curves comparable to previously published results, indicating its reliability and effectiveness.

The implications of this work extend beyond DECam, as the authors note that the methodology can be adapted for use with other instruments and future LSST observations. This advancement in transient detection is significant for the broader research community, as it enhances the ability to identify and classify transient astronomical events, which are crucial for understanding the universe's dynamic processes.

For further details, the paper can be accessed at arXiv:2406.00110.