Development of Novel Statistical Tools for the Analysis of Astronomical Data

Informations projet

ASTROSTAT-II

N° de convention de subvention: 873089

DOI

10.3030/873089

Projet clôturé

Date de signature de la CE 27 Novembre 2019

Date de début 1 Mars 2020

Date de fin 31 Août 2025

Financé au titre de

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Coût total

€ 690 000,00

Contribution de l’UE

€ 556 600,00

Coordonné par

IDRYMA TECHNOLOGIAS KAI EREVNAS
Greece

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ASTROSTAT-II (Development of Novel Statistical Tools for the Analysis of Astronomical Data)

Période du rapport: 2020-03-01 au 2023-02-28

Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet

The goal of this project is to develop new methods for the analysis of complex astrophysical data. This way we can maximize the scientific output of state-of-the-art research facilities such as ground-based telescopes and space observatories probing the Universe over the entire electromagnetic spectrum.
In addition through the activities of this program young researchers are trained in novel and emerging methodologies, obtaining additional career enabling skills in areas such as statistics and artificial intelligence.

The overall objectives of the project are:

a) To develop new methods that will address existing challenges in astrophysics research related to the following areas:
-- Detection and characterization of sources
-- Analysis of images (including multi-dimensional data such as event lists or data cubes) with special focus on low photon-count data
-- Population studies, including a broad array of problems related to fitting distributions and inferring model parameters for individual sources or their populations
-- Analysis of time-domain data including the detection of transients, characterization of sources and measurement of variability parameters.

b) Train young researchers to new methodologies and provide them with career enabling skills.

c) Strengthen the collaboration between the participating institutes and enhance the cross-disciplinary transfer of knowledge between the fields of statistics and Astrophysics.

Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent

The program consists of four Work Packages focusing in the following areas:
WP 1. Source detection and classification
WP 2. Imaging analysis
WP 3. Population studies: fitting and inference
WP 4. The advent of time domain

The main results achieved during the first period of the program include
- Development of classification methods for active galaxies, stellar remnants, and supernovae. These are very relevant for the interpenetration of results from major astrophysical surveys and for understanding the populations and evolution of compact object populations (which is critical for gravitational-wave astrophysics).
- Development of methods for the analysis of low photon count images, allowing the effective exploitation of data from flagship space observatories.
- A tool for the analysis of luminosity distributions of objects detected in X-ray and optical surveys. This is a long-standing problem. The developed methods enable us to measure the cosmological evolution of galaxies and supermassive black holes.
- Study of the populations of galaxies in the X-ray sky, which particularly important for understanding the connection between stellar remnants and stellar populations in galaxies.
- Development of state-of-the-art methods for modelling populations of X-ray binaries, and gravitational-wave progenitors. This is a very active and fast developing field that is relevant for several areas of astrophysics (stellar evolution, binary evolution, stellar remnants, gravitational-wave astrophysics)
- Development of methods for disentangling blended X-ray sources using spectral and timing information, allowing to maximize the scientific output from current and future observatories.
- Methods for the detection of transient sources. This is particularly relevant for the forthcoming major time-domain surveys and the determination of cosmological parameters based on type Ia supernovae.
- Methods for measuring time delay timescales in gravitationally lensed images, which provides and alternative means of constraining cosmological parameters.
- A set of methods for identifying type Ia supernovae, inferring their luminosity, and using them to determine cosmological parameters.

Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent)

All aspects of the project performed so far resulted in either the development of new methods, algorithms or tools for the analysis of astrophysical data, or the application of advanced methods to the analysis of state-of-the-art data from astronomical observatories (e.g. major surveys, data from space telescopes etc).
Furthermore, these methods can be applied to other areas than Astrophysics. For example the imaging analysis methods can be applied to any field related to the analysis of imaging data (e.g. medical imaging) and the time-domain methods can be applied to any field involving time series.

During the 1st period of the project 8 researchers were seconded, 5 of which are ESRs. This exchange enabled the ESRs to interact with researchers in other institutes and other areas of science, broadening their horizon and equipping then with additional career enabling skills.

An important aspect of this project is the dissemination of the results.
All publications are available in open source journals or preprint repositories. In addition analysis tools and software packages are available through software repositories.
In addition we have organized :
a) an astro-statistics school at the university of Crete/FORTH
b) an open workshop at the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian where we discussed new results. This workshop was open so other interested researchers could participate, learn and exchange ideas with themembers of the collaboration.

In the following period we plan to continue working on the projects described in the grant agreement. However, we expect that the excellent collaboration between the partner organizations will lead to new projects (as already happened during the first period).
In addition we plan to continue our dissemination and training activities by organizing training schools and workhops in a yearly basis.