Source Finding

find_sources() is an iterative source-finding algorithm that uses peak detection on a TS map to find new source candidates. The procedure for adding new sources at each iteration is as follows:

  • Generate a TS map for the test source model defined with the model argument.
  • Identify peaks with sqrt(TS) > sqrt_ts_threshold and an angular distance of at least min_separation from a higher amplitude peak in the map.
  • Order the peaks by TS and add a source at each peak starting from the highest TS peak. Set the source position by fitting a 2D parabola to the log-likelihood surface around the peak maximum. After adding each source, re-fit its spectral parameters.
  • Add sources at the N highest peaks up to N = sources_per_iter.

Source finding is repeated up to max_iter iterations or until no peaks are found in a given iteration. Sources found by the method are added to the model and given designations PS JXXXX.X+XXXX according to their position in celestial coordinates.

Examples

model = {'Index' : 2.0, 'SpatialModel' : 'PointSource'}
srcs = gta.find_sources(model=model, sqrt_ts_threshold=5.0,
                        min_separation=0.5)

The method for generating the TS maps can be controlled with the tsmap_fitter option. TS maps can be generated with either tsmap() or tscube().

Reference/API

GTAnalysis.find_sources(prefix='', **kwargs)

An iterative source-finding algorithm.

Parameters:
  • model (dict) – Dictionary defining the properties of the test source. This is the model that will be used for generating TS maps.
  • sqrt_ts_threshold (float) – Source threshold in sqrt(TS). Only peaks with sqrt(TS) exceeding this threshold will be used as seeds for new sources.
  • min_separation (float) – Minimum separation in degrees of sources detected in each iteration. The source finder will look for the maximum peak in the TS map within a circular region of this radius.
  • max_iter (int) – Maximum number of source finding iterations. The source finder will continue adding sources until no additional peaks are found or the number of iterations exceeds this number.
  • sources_per_iter (int) – Maximum number of sources that will be added in each iteration. If the number of detected peaks in a given iteration is larger than this number, only the N peaks with the largest TS will be used as seeds for the current iteration.
  • tsmap_fitter (str) –

    Set the method used internally for generating TS maps. Valid options:

    • tsmap
    • tscube
  • tsmap (dict) – Keyword arguments dictionary for tsmap method.
  • tscube (dict) – Keyword arguments dictionary for tscube method.
Returns:

  • peaks (list) – List of peak objects.
  • sources (list) – List of source objects.