DOE OSTI · 2562855
Bayesian Component Separation for DESI LAE Automated Spectroscopic Redshifts and Photometric Targeting
Abstract
Lyα emitters (LAEs) are valuable high-redshift cosmological probes traditionally identified using specialized narrowband photometric surveys. In ground-based spectroscopy, it can be difficult to distinguish the sharp LAE peak from residual sky emission lines using automated methods, leading to misclassified redshifts. We present a Bayesian spectral component separation technique to automatically determine spectroscopic redshifts for LAEs while marginalizing over sky residuals. We use visually inspected spectra of LAEs obtained using the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) to create a data-driven prior and can determine redshift by jointly inferring sky residual, LAE, and residual components for each individual spectrum. We demonstrate this method on 881 spectroscopically observed z = 2–4 DESI LAE candidate spectra and determine their redshifts with >90% accuracy when validated against visually inspected redshifts. Using the Δχ$^{2}$ value from our pipeline as a proxy for detection confidence, we then explore potential survey design choices and implications for targeting LAEs with medium-band photometry. This method allows for scalability and accuracy in determining redshifts from DESI spectra, and the results provide recommendations for LAE targeting in anticipation of future high-redshift spectroscopic surveys.
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Uzsoy, Ana M. [Harvard-Smithsonian Ctr. Astrophys.] (ORCID:0000000193080449), Saydjari, Andrew K. [Harvard-Smithsonian Ctr. Astrophys.; Harvard U.; Princeton U.] (ORCID:0000000265619002), Dey, Arjun [Natl. Solar Observ., Tucson] (ORCID:0000000249284003), Raichoor, Anand [LBL, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000159997923), Finkbeiner, Douglas P. [Harvard-Smithsonian Ctr. Astrophys.; Harvard U.] (ORCID:000000032808275X), Gawiser, Eric [Rutgers U., Piscataway] (ORCID:0000000315308713), Lee, Kyoung-Soo [Purdue U.] (ORCID:0000000330049596), Ahlen, Steven [Boston U.] (ORCID:0000000160987247), Bianchi, Davide [Milan U.; Brera Observ.] (ORCID:0000000197120006), Brooks, David [University Coll. London] (ORCID:0000000284585047), Claybaugh, Todd [LBL, Berkeley], Cuceu, Andrei [LBL, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000221690595), de la Macorra, Axel [UNAM, Mexico] (ORCID:0000000217691640), Doel, Peter [University Coll. London] (ORCID:0000000263974457), Font-Ribera, Andreu [Barcelona, IFAE] (ORCID:0000000230337312), Forero-Romero, Jaime E. [Andes U., Bogota] (ORCID:0000000228903725), Gaztañaga, Enrique [Barcelona, IEEC; Portsmouth U., ICG; ICE, Bellaterra], Gontcho A. Gontcho, Satya [LBL, Berkeley] (ORCID:000000033142233X), Gutierrez, Gaston [Fermilab] (ORCID:0000000308250517), Ishak, Mustapha [U. Texas, Dallas] (ORCID:000000026024466X), Kehoe, Robert [Southern Methodist U.] (ORCID:000000027101697X), Kirkby, David [UC, Irvine] (ORCID:0000000288285463), Kremin, Anthony [LBL, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000163567424), Landriau, Martin [LBL, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000318388528), Le Guillou, Laurent [LPNHE, Paris] (ORCID:0000000171788868), Meisner, Aaron [Natl. Solar Observ., Tucson] (ORCID:0000000211257384), Miquel, Ramon [ICREA, Barcelona; Barcelona, IFAE] (ORCID:0000000266104836), Moustakas, John [Siena Coll., Loudonville] (ORCID:0000000227334559), Palanque-Delabrouille, Nathalie [IRFU, Saclay; LBL, Berkeley] (ORCID:000000033188784X), Prada, Francisco [Granada U., Theor. Phys. Astrophys.] (ORCID:0000000171458674), Pérez-Ràfols, Ignasi [Barcelona, Polytechnic U.] (ORCID:0000000169790125), Rossi, Graziano [Sejong U.], Sanchez, Eusebio [Madrid, CIEMAT] (ORCID:0000000296468198), Schlegel, David [LBL, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000250425088), Schubnell, Michael [Michigan U.], Seo, Hee-Jong [Ohio U., Athens] (ORCID:0000000265883508), Sprayberry, David [Natl. Solar Observ., Tucson] (ORCID:0000000175836441), Tarlé, Gregory [Michigan U.] (ORCID:0000000317040781), Weaver, Benjamin Alan [Natl. Solar Observ., Tucson], Zou, Hu [Beijing Observ.] (ORCID:0000000266843997). 2026-03-06. Bayesian Component Separation for DESI LAE Automated Spectroscopic Redshifts and Photometric Targeting. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357%2Fae3f9a
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