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

MacLeod, C.L.; Green, P.J.; Anderson, S.F.; Eracleous, M.; Ruan, J.J.; Runnoe, J.; Nielsen Brandt, W.; Badenes, C.; Greene, J.; Morganson, E.; Schmidt, S.J.; Schwope, A.; Shen, Y.; Amaro, R.; Lebleu, A.; Filiz Ak, N.; Grier, C.J.; Hoover, D.; McGraw, S.M.; Dawson, K.; Hall, P.B.; Hawley, S.L.; Mariappan, V.; Myers, A.D.; Pâris, I.; Schneider, D.P.; Stassun, K.G.; Bershady, M.A.; Blanton, M.R.; Seo, H.-J.; Tinker, J.; Fernández-Trincado, J.G.; Chambers, K.; Kaiser, N.; Kudritzki, R.-P.; Magnier, E.; Metcalfe, N.; Waters, C.Z.

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


Authors

C.L. MacLeod

P.J. Green

S.F. Anderson

M. Eracleous

J.J. Ruan

J. Runnoe

W. Nielsen Brandt

C. Badenes

J. Greene

E. Morganson

S.J. Schmidt

A. Schwope

Y. Shen

R. Amaro

A. Lebleu

N. Filiz Ak

C.J. Grier

D. Hoover

S.M. McGraw

K. Dawson

P.B. Hall

S.L. Hawley

V. Mariappan

A.D. Myers

I. Pâris

D.P. Schneider

K.G. Stassun

M.A. Bershady

M.R. Blanton

H.-J. Seo

J. Tinker

J.G. Fernández-Trincado

K. Chambers

N. Kaiser

R.-P. Kudritzki

E. Magnier

C.Z. Waters



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.

Citation

MacLeod, C., Green, P., Anderson, S., Eracleous, M., Ruan, J., Runnoe, J., …Waters, C. (2017). The Time-domain Spectroscopic Survey: Target Selection for Repeat Spectroscopy. Astronomical Journal, 155(1), Article 6. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/aa99da

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 8, 2017
Online Publication Date Dec 7, 2017
Publication Date Dec 7, 2017
Deposit Date Jan 15, 2018
Publicly Available Date Jan 25, 2018
Journal Astronomical Journal
Print ISSN 0004-6256
Publisher IOP Publishing
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 155
Issue 1
Article Number 6
DOI https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-3881/aa99da

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Copyright Statement
© 2017. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.





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