2024/04/09 by Oscar Barragán, S. Aigrain, Barragán, Oscar +3
Computer Science · Engineering · Environmental Science · #Advanced Vision and Imaging #FOS: Physical sciences #Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM) #Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications #Satellite Image Processing and Photogrammetry
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2404.06132
openalex publication_date 2024/04/09 · openalex created_date 2024/04/12 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Space-based photometry missions produce exquisite light curves that contain a wealth of stellar variability on a wide range of timescales. Light curves also typically contain significant instrumental systematics -- spurious, non-astrophysical trends that are common, in varying degrees, to many light curves. Empirical systematics-correction approaches using the information in the light curves themselves have been very successful, but tend to suppress astrophysical signals, particularly on longer timescales. Unlike its predecessors, the PLATO mission will use multiple cameras to monitor the same stars. We present REPUBLIC, a novel systematics-correction algorithm which exploits this multi-camera configuration to correct systematics that differ between cameras, while preserving the component of each star's signal that is common to all cameras, regardless of timescale. Through simulations with astrophysical signals (star spots and planetary transits), Kepler-like errors, and white noise, we demonstrate REPUBLIC's ability to preserve long-term astrophysical signals usually lost in standard correction techniques. We also explore REPUBLIC's performance with different number of cameras and systematic properties. We conclude that REPUBLIC should be considered a potential complement to existing strategies for systematic correction in multi-camera surveys, with its utility contingent upon further validation and adaptation to the specific characteristics of the PLATO mission data