DOE OSTI · 3017926
The DESI Transients Survey: Legacy Classifications and Methodology
Abstract
We present the first systematic spectroscopic observations of extragalactic transients from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), as part of the DESI Transients Survey program. With 5,000 fibers and an ${\sim} 8$ deg$^2$ field of view, we exploit DESI as a machine for the discovery and classification of transients. We present transient classifications from archival DESI data in Data Releases 1 and 2, relying on a combination of a secondary target program and serendipitous observations. We also present observations from the first 6 months of the DESI spare fiber program dedicated to transients. The program is run in coordination with a dedicated DECam time-domain survey, serving as a pathfinder for what we will be able to achieve in conjunction with the Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). We classify over 250 transients, of which the majority were previously unclassified. The sample comprises thermonuclear and core-collapse supernovae and tidal disruption events (TDEs), including a TDE observed before its discovery in imaging. We demonstrate DESI's ability to classify a population of faint transients down to $r\sim 22.5$ mag during main survey operations, with negligible impacts on DESI's main observations.
Keep this discovery
Explore connections, maps & timelines
Hall, Xander J. [Carnegie Mellon U.] (ORCID:0000000293645419), Palmese, Antonella [Carnegie Mellon U.] (ORCID:0000000260110530), BenZvi, Segev [Rochester U.] (ORCID:0000000155374710), Banovetz, John [LBNL, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000307768859), O'Connor, Brendan [Carnegie Mellon U.] (ORCID:0000000297000036), Hu, Lei [Carnegie Mellon U.] (ORCID:0000000172011938), Hammerstein, Erica [UC, Berkeley, Astron. Dept.; LBNL, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000256988703), Amsellem, Ariel [Carnegie Mellon U.] (ORCID:0000000334332698), Aguilar, Jessica Nicole [LBNL, Berkeley] (ORCID:000000030822452X), Ahlen, Steven [Boston U.] (ORCID:0000000160987247), Bailey, Steven [LBNL, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000341626619), Bianchi, Davide [Milan U.; Brera Observ.] (ORCID:0000000197120006), Brooks, David [University Coll. London] (ORCID:0000000284585047), Claybaugh, Todd [LBNL, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000250246987), Cuceu, Andrei [LBNL, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000221690595), Dawson, Kyle [Utah U.] (ORCID:0000000205533805), de la Macorra, Axel [UNAM, Mexico] (ORCID:0000000217691640), Della Costa, John [San Diego State U.; Natl. Solar Observ., Tucson] (ORCID:0000000309282000), Dey, Arjun [Natl. Solar Observ., Tucson] (ORCID:0000000249284003), Doel, Peter [University Coll. London] (ORCID:0000000263974457), Ferraro, Simone [LBNL, Berkeley; UC, Berkeley, Math. Dept.] (ORCID:0000000349927854), Font-Ribera, Andreu [Barcelona, IFAE] (ORCID:0000000230337312), Forero-Romero, Jaime E. [Andes U., Bogota] (ORCID:0000000228903725), Gaztañaga, Enrique [Portsmouth U., ICG; Barcelona, IEEC] (ORCID:0000000196320815), Gontcho A. Gontcho, Satya [LBNL, Berkeley; Virginia U.] (ORCID:000000033142233X), Gonzalez-Morales, Alma Xochitl [Guanajuato U.] (ORCID:0000000340896924), Graur, Or [Portsmouth U., ICG] (ORCID:0000000243916137), Gutierrez, Gaston [Fermilab] (ORCID:0000000308250517), Ishak, Mustapha [U. Texas, Dallas] (ORCID:000000026024466X), Jimenez, Jorge [Barcelona, IFAE] (ORCID:0000000185283473), Joyce, Dick [Natl. Solar Observ., Tucson] (ORCID:0000000302015241), Juneau, Stephanie [Natl. Solar Observ., Tucson] (ORCID:0000000200002394), Kremin, Anthony [LBNL, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000163567424), Lahav, Ofer [University Coll. London] (ORCID:0000000211349035), Lamman, Claire [Ohio State U.] (ORCID:0000000267319329), Landriau, Martin [LBNL, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000318388528), Le Guillou, Laurent [LPNHE, Paris] (ORCID:0000000171788868), Leauthaud, Alexie [Lick Observ.; UC, Santa Cruz] (ORCID:0000000236773617), Levi, Michael [LBNL, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000318871018), Manera, Marc [Barcelona, IFAE; Barcelona, Autonoma U.] (ORCID:0000000349628934), Meisner, Aaron [Natl. Solar Observ., Tucson] (ORCID:0000000211257384), Miquel, Ramon [ICREA, Barcelona; Barcelona, IFAE] (ORCID:0000000266104836), Moustakas, John [Siena Coll., Loudonville] (ORCID:0000000227334559), Myers, Adam [Wyoming U.], Nadathur, Seshadri [Portsmouth U., ICG] (ORCID:0000000190703102), Percival, Will [Waterloo U.; Perimeter Inst. Theor. Phys.] (ORCID:0000000206445727), Poppett, Claire [LBNL, Berkeley; UC, Berkeley (main); UC, Berkeley, Math. Dept.] (ORCID:0000000305125489), Pérez-Ràfols, Ignasi [Barcelona, Polytechnic U.] (ORCID:0000000169790125), Prada, Francisco [Madrid, IFT; Granada U., Theor. Phys. Astrophys.; IAC, La Laguna; Laguna U., Tenerife] (ORCID:0000000171458674), Rossi, Graziano [Sejong U.], Sanchez, Eusebio [Madrid, CIEMAT] (ORCID:0000000296468198), Schlafly, Edward [Baltimore, Space Telescope Sci.] (ORCID:0000000235697421), Schlegel, David [LBNL, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000250425088), Schubnell, Michael [Michigan U.; KEK, Tsukuba; Hiroshima Shudo U.] (ORCID:0000000195042059), Sprayberry, David [Natl. Solar Observ., Tucson] (ORCID:0000000175836441), Tarlé, Gregory [Michigan U.; KEK, Tsukuba; Hiroshima Shudo U.] (ORCID:0000000317040781), Weaver, Benjamin Alan [Natl. Solar Observ., Tucson], Zhou, Rongpu [LBNL, Berkeley] (ORCID:0000000153814372), Zou, Hu [Beijing Observ.] (ORCID:0000000266843997). 2026-01-18. The DESI Transients Survey: Legacy Classifications and Methodology. https://www.osti.gov/biblio/3017926
Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.