J-PAS: A neural network approach to single stellar population characterisation
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: J-PAS (Javalambre Physics of the Accelerating Universe Astrophysical Survey) will present a groundbreaking photometric survey covering 8500 deg 2 of the visible sky from Javalambre, capturing data in 56 narrow-band filters. This survey promises to revolutionise galaxy evolution studies by observing ∼10 8 galaxies with low spectral resolution. A crucial aspect of this analysis involves predicting stellar population parameters from the observed galaxy photometry. In this study, we combined the exquisite J-PAS photometry with state-of-the-art single stellar population (SSP) libraries to accurately predict stellar age, metallicity, and dust attenuation with a neural network (NN) model. The NN was trained on synthetic J-PAS photometry from different SSP libraries (E-MILES, Charlot & Bruzual, and XSL) to enhance the robustness of our predictions against individual SSP model variations and limitations. To create mock samples with varying observed magnitudes, we added artificial noise in the form of random Gaussian variations within typical observational uncertainties in each band. Our results indicate that the NN was able to accurately estimate stellar parameters for SSP models without any evident degeneracies, surpassing a Bayesian SED-fitting method on the same test set. We obtained the median bias, scatter, and the percentage of outliers: μ = (0.01 dex, 0.00 dex, 0.00 mag), σ NMAD = (0.23 dex, 0.29 dex, 0.04 mag), f o = (17%, 24%, 1%) at i ∼ 17 mag for the age, metallicity and dust attenuation, respectively. The accuracy of the predictions is highly dependent on the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of the photometry, achieving robust predictions up to i ∼ 20 mag.
Source: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Authors: H. Domínguez Sánchez, P. Coelho, G. Bruzual, A. Hernán-Caballero, C. López Sanjuan, J. A. Fernandez-Ontiveros, L. A. Díaz-García, L. Suelves, A. Álvarez-Candal, I. Breda, S. Gurung-López, V. Placco, J. Vega-Ferrero, J. M. Vílchez, R. Abramo, J. Alcaniz, N. Benitez, S. Bonoli, S. Carneiro, J. Cenarro, D. Cristóbal-Hornillos, R. Dupke, A. Ederoclite, C. Hernández–Monteagudo, A. Marín-Franch, C. Mendes de Oliveira, M. Moles, L. Sodré, K. Taylor, J. Varela, H. Vázquez Ramió
Institutions: Centro de Estudios de Física del Cosmos de Aragón, Instituto de Física de Cantabria, Universidade de São Paulo, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Tartu Observatory, University of Tartu, Universitat de València, Parc Científic de la Universitat de València, NSF NOIRLab, National Observatory, Donostia International Physics Center, Universidad de La Laguna, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
Language: English
Subfield: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,865
OpenAlex ID: W4416926554